Radiological Imaging Interpretation Skills of Medical Interns

Abstract

Background Medical students’ skills in radiographic image interpretation is neither known nor assessed in the case of most medical schools in Brazil. Objective The purpose of this study was to assess intern students’ performance in the interpretation of radiographic images of the chest and abdomen. Methods A 10-item test was developed using non-contrasted radiological images from the chest and abdomen. Internship students from two public medical schools (Classroom Group, n=50) and doctors (Control Group, n=20) answered the test. A third group (Online Group, n=38) composed of students from different medical schools answered a web-based form with the same 10-item test. Results Doctors and students were able to accurately interpret only 30% of the radiographic images; 50% of the students and 30% of the doctors performed poorly. The rest produced average levels of performance. There were minimal differences between the Classroom and Online Groups. A point-by-point analysis of their answers has been presented and discussed. Conclusion Efforts must be made, including the framing of medical curricula interventions, to improve student interns’ skills in radiological image interpretation.

Competency in Chest Radiography Interpretation by Junior Doctors and Final Year Medical Students at a Teaching Hospital

“…Our findings suggest that more than 85% of the participants had difficulty in interpreting normal CXRs when no clinical history was presented. The tendency that medical doctors and students would interpret the normal CXR as abnormal has been documented by other investigators [ 4 , 6 , 7 , 13 ]. Possibly, interpreting a normal CXR as abnormal could lead to inappropriate decisions which might affect the patient's health and unwarranted cost of treatment.…”

“…Similarly, the medical students performed poorly as only 15.8% could correctly identify normal CXR without being presented with clinical history. A significant limitation of the medical interns and students in relation to competency to interpret similar CXRs was reported by Eisen et al [ 6 ] and Miranda et al [ 4 ]. Our findings suggest that more than 85% of the participants had difficulty in interpreting normal CXRs when no clinical history was presented.…”

“…Medical imaging especially chest radiography is often the first investigation for chest complaints, and the information obtained is key to inform a safe, efficient, and cost-effective intervention for the patients [ 1 – 3 ]. Chest radiography imaging is essential for the diagnosis of several diseases and nonchest-related conditions such as bowel perforation and preoperative assessments of patients [ 4 ]. Radiologists are involved in the interpretation of images obtained from computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, radiography, ultrasound scan, and others in tertiary hospitals.…”

“…As part of clinical medical training, medical students and junior doctors are endowed with the basic skills to interpret simple radiologic images. However, studies elsewhere indicate poor CXR interpretation skills among medical students and junior doctors [ 4 – 7 ].…”

“…Miranda et al assessed the radiological imaging interpretation skills of medical interns in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. They observed that both medical interns and final year medical students alike are largely limited in their ability to make radiological diagnoses of simple and commonplace situations [ 4 ]. In another study, Christiansen et al found that Danish junior doctors do not meet the established minimum requirements for radiological diagnostic skills for the use of CXR [ 7 ].…”