Needs assessment for a focused radiology curriculum in surgical residency: a multicenter study.
BACKGROUND
Patient instability and limited radiology staffing may compel surgeons to make clinical decisions based on their independent interpretations of imaging studies. Despite potential implications for patients, no research to date has assessed the need for a diagnostic radiology curriculum in general surgery residency.


METHODS
We performed a cross-sectional study of surgery faculty and residents at 13 teaching hospitals across the United States. Survey responses were summarized using frequency and percentage, and analyzed by chi-square, Mantel-Haenszel chi-square, and McNemar tests.


RESULTS
Surveys were distributed to 465 faculty and 520 residents, with response rates of 26% and 30%, respectively. Most respondents reported making decisions based on their independent imaging interpretation at least sometimes, with higher frequency in acute scenarios. The majority voiced a need for a dedicated radiology curriculum, with teaching in chest x-rays, abdominal x-rays, abdominal computed tomography, chest computed tomography, and focused assessment with sonography in trauma examinations.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgeons and surgical residents enact treatment plans based on their independent interpretation of imaging studies, especially during acute patient scenarios. Further curricular development efforts are warranted to ensure trainee accuracy in radiologic interpretation.
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA. Electronic address: klbutler@partners.org.
Kathryn L
KL
Butler
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Yuchiao
Y
Chang
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Marc
M
DeMoya
Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Banner-University Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
Ara
A
Feinstein
Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
Paula
P
Ferrada
Department of Surgery, Cambridge Health Alliance, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Ugwuji
U
Maduekwe
Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Adrian A
AA
Maung
Division of Trauma, Acute Care Surgery, and Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Nicolas
N
Melo
Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Stephen
S
Odom
Department of Surgery, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Jaisa
J
Olasky
Department of Surgery, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton, MA, USA.
Michael
M
Reinhorn
Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Douglas B
DB
Smink
Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Nicole
N
Stassen
Division of Acute Care Surgery, Department of Surgery, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
Chad T
CT
Wilson
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Peter
P
Fagenholz
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Haytham
H
Kaafarani
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
David
D
King
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
Daniel D
DD
Yeh
Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Suite 810, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
George
G
Velmahos
Department of Surgery, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Dimitrios
D
Stefanidis
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003479:Curriculum; D005180:Faculty, Medical; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011871:Radiology / Q000193:education*; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
Curricular design; General surgery residency; Radiology; Resident education