A Cross-sectional Study on Chest Radiograph Interpretation by Medical Interns and First Year Residents
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Date
2020-12
Authors
Lobe Girma
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Publisher
Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Accurate interpretation of chest radiographs (CXR) is essential as clinical decisionsdepend on readings.AIM: To assess the ability of medical interns and first year residents of internal medicine,emergency medicine and surgery to interpret conventional chest radiographs.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten conventional chest radiographs were selected that were good radiological examples of emergency and common medical conditions.Most were conditions that a first line medical professional should be expected to recognize by thend of their training. One normal radiograph was included. The radiographs were shown to 49medical interns and 31 first year residents of emergency medicine, surgery and internal medicine who were asked to describe their findings and write their most likely diagnosis, certainty abouttheir diagnosis.The response for each radiograph was scored on a scale of 0 to 2.
RESULTS: The median score achieved was 8 of 20 (range 1-14). An increased level of training was not associated with overall score (Interns 8.1, EM 1styear residents 8.1, IM 1year residents8.2 surgery 1styear residents p=0.279). The overall degree of certainty was low. On noradiograph were more than 35% of participants definite about their answer. The overall certaintyof the participants was significantly correlated with the overall score (r=.283 p<0.011). Seventy percent of the participants thought they were good at interpreting chest radiographs. The< 0.01. Left lower 1lobe collapse, lung metastasis, right upper lobe TB, left pneumothorax werecorrectly diagnosed 2.4%, 8.5%, 22% and 52.4% of the time, respectively.
CONCLUSION: First line physicians do not perform well at interpreting simple chest radiographs.We identified only the level of certainty has significant association with successful chestradiograph interpretation. Interestingly, significant number of the interns and even many residentstraining in different department showed good interest in radiology as a career, which may helpprovide training for them and improve their chest radiograph reading skill.st
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Keywords
Chest Radiograph