Do radiologists still need to report chest x rays?
OBJECTIVE
Chest x rays (CXRs) are among the most difficult radiographs to interpret accurately. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of different grades and specialities of clinicians to evaluate a series of CXRs correctly.


METHODS
60 clinicians of different grades and from different specialities were randomly recruited to interpret 15 CXRs within 30 min. Radiographs included normal (n = 5) and abnormal images of common medical emergencies (n = 10). Non-parametric statistical tests examined for significant differences in the ability of different grades and specialities of doctors to interpret CXRs.


RESULTS
Senior doctors (consultants and registrars, n = 32) attained significantly higher scores than junior doctors (senior house officers, foundation 1 and 2 doctors, n = 28, p = 0.001). Specialists (consultants and registrars in radiology and respiratory medicine, n = 7) achieved significantly higher scores than non-specialists (all other consultants and registrars, n = 25, p = 0.0002). In addition, senior radiologists (consultants and registrars) attained significantly higher scores than senior doctors from other specialities (p = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
To improve patient care, we suggest that all chest x rays should be reviewed at an early stage during a patient's hospital admission by a senior clinician and reported by a radiologist at the earliest opportunity. We also suggest that structured teaching on CXR interpretation should be made available for newly qualified doctors, especially with the introduction of shortened training.
Mehrotra
P
P
Department of Radiology, University Hospital of North Durham, North Road, Durham DH1 5TW, UK. mehr75@doctors.org.uk
Bosemani
V
V
Cox
J
J
D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000592:standards; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003253:Consultants; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000592:standards; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000592:standards*; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*