MRI interpretation proficiency of musculoskeletal fellows in training.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) interpretation proficiency of musculoskeletal fellows in training.


METHODS
Between July 2003 and June 2007, 14 musculoskeletal fellows were independently tested with 20 MRI studies of the knee and shoulder at four separate time points during their fellowship years. Trends in true-positive and false-positive interpretation results were evaluated. Fellows who completed their residencies at the fellowship institution (internal fellows) were compared with those from other residencies (external fellows).


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in proficiency between the initial and final (9-month) evaluations (P < .0001). At the initial evaluation, there was a mean of 52.8% (41.7 of 79) true-positive results (range, 32-51); at 9 months, there was a mean of 71.0% (56.1 of 79; range, 40-72). The number of false-positive results also declined during this time period from a mean of 8.1 (range, 2-13) at initial evaluation to 4.7 (range, 2-8) at 9 months (P < .001). External fellows had more incorrect diagnoses initially but showed greater improvement than internal fellows at 9 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Fellows continued to improve their MRI interpretation skills throughout the first 9 months of their fellowships. External fellows were slightly less proficient at the start of their fellowships but slightly more proficient at 9 months compared to internal fellows.
Arekapudi
Subramanyeswara R
SR
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Hospitals, 1500 E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Jamadar
David A
DA
Caoili
Elaine M
EM
Jacobson
Jon A
JA
Girish
Gandikota
G
Brandon
Catherine J
CJ
Dong
Qian
Q
Morag
Yoav
Y
Fessell
David
D
Kim
Sung-Moon
SM
D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008824:Michigan; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015588:Observer Variation; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity