Survey of hospital clinicians' preferences regarding the format of radiology reports.
OBJECTIVE
To determine hospital consultants' preferences for the format and content of radiology reports.


METHODS
Ninety-nine questionnaires were sent to consultant staff with responsibility for requesting ultrasound examinations. The participants were invited to rank a variety of hypothetical reports in order of preference. They were also asked whether they felt other commonly included features of a radiology report were of value. Rank data were analysed by the Friedman statistic, Fisher's multiple comparisons least significant difference test, and the Kemeny-Young method.


RESULTS
Forty-nine responses were received. There was a preference for more detailed reports that included a clinical comment by the radiologist, for both normal and abnormal results (p<0.05). Reports presented in tables were preferred. The combination of a detailed tabular report with a radiologist's comment was the most popular single structure, preferred by 43% of respondents for normal reports and 51% for abnormal reports.


CONCLUSIONS
Detailed reports with a radiologists' comment are preferred to briefer reports, even for normal examinations. Tabular reports are preferred to prose, with the combination of a detailed report presented in a tabular format accompanied by a radiologist's comment being the most preferred style.
Plumb
A A O
AA
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Blackburn, UK. aaoplumb@hotmail.com
Grieve
F M
FM
Khan
S H
SH
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003142:Communication; D004739:England; D020445:Hospitalists; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011871:Radiology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*