title: Does periodic lung screening of films meets standards?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the workers' periodic chest x-ray screening techniques in accordance with the quality standards is the responsibility of physicians. Evaluation of differences of interpretations by physicians in different levels of education and the importance of standardization of interpretation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Previously taken chest radiographs of 400 workers who are working in a factory producing the glass run channels were evaluated according to technical and quality standards by three observers (pulmonologist, radiologist, pulmonologist assistant). There was a perfect concordance between radiologist and pulmonologist for the underpenetrated films. Whereas there was perfect concordance between pulmonologist and pulmonologist assistant for over penetrated films.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pulmonologist (52%) has interpreted the dose of the films as regular more than other observers (radiologist; 44.3%, pulmonologist assistant; 30.4%). The frequency of interpretation of the films as taken in inspiratory phase by the pulmonologist (81.7%) was less than other observers (radiologist; 92.1%, pulmonologist assistant; 92.6%). The rate of the pulmonologist (53.5%) was higher than the other observers (radiologist; 44.6%, pulmonologist assistant; 41.8%) for the assessment of the positioning of the patients as symmetrical. Pulmonologist assistant (15.3%) was the one who most commonly reported the parenchymal findings (radiologist; 2.2%, pulmonologist; 12.9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to reorganize the technical standards and exposure procedures for improving the quality of the chest radiographs. The reappraisal of all interpreters and continuous training of technicians is required.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Songul Binay, MD. Department of Chest Diseases, Yildirim Beyazit University, Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Songul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Binay
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Peri Arbak, MD. Department of Chest Diseases, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Peri
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Arbak
authors.affiliation: Prof. Dr. Alp Alper Safak, MD. Department of Radiology, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Alp Alper
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Safak
authors.affiliation: Dr. Ege Gulec Balbay, MD. Associate Professor, Department of Chest Diseases, Duzce University, Medical School, Duzce, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ege Gulec
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Balbay
authors.affiliation: Dr. Cahit Bilgin, MD. Assistant Professor, Department of Chest Diseases, Sakarya University, Medical School, Sakarya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cahit
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bilgin
authors.affiliation: Dr. Naciye Karatas, MD. Department of Chest Diseases, Antakya Goverment Hospital, Hatay, Turkey.
authors.forename: Naciye
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karatas
keywords: Differences among observers; Occupational health; Periodic screening; Pneumoconiosis; Quality of radiography