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. 2016 Nov;37(11):1977-1982.
doi: 10.3174/ajnr.A4897. Epub 2016 Jul 28.

Comparing Preliminary and Final Neuroradiology Reports: What Factors Determine the Differences?

K Stankiewicz  1 , M Cohen  1 , M Carone  2 , G Sevinc  1 , P G Nagy  1 , J S Lewin  1 , D M Yousem  3 , L S Babiarz  1
Affiliations

Comparing Preliminary and Final Neuroradiology Reports: What Factors Determine the Differences?

K Stankiewicz et al. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Trainees' interpretations of neuroradiologic studies are finalized by faculty neuroradiologists. We aimed to identify the factors that determine the degree to which the preliminary reports are modified.

Materials and methods: The character length of the preliminary and final reports and the percentage character change between the 2 reports were determined for neuroradiology reports composed during November 2012 to October 2013. Examination time, critical finding flag, missed critical finding flag, trainee level, faculty experience, imaging technique, and native-versus-non-native speaker status of the reader were collected. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between mean percentage character change and the various factors.

Results: Of 34,661 reports, 2322 (6.7%) were read by radiology residents year 1; 4429 (12.8%), by radiology residents year 2; 3663 (10.6%), by radiology residents year 3; 2249 (6.5%), by radiology residents year 4; and 21,998 (63.5%), by fellows. The overall mean percentage character change was 14.8% (range, 0%-701.8%; median, 6.6%). Mean percentage character change increased for a missed critical finding (+41.6%, P < .0001), critical finding flag (+1.8%, P < .001), MR imaging studies (+3.6%, P < .001), and non-native trainees (+4.2%, P = .018). Compared with radiology residents year 1, radiology residents year 2 (-5.4%, P = .002), radiology residents year 3 (-5.9%, P = .002), radiology residents year 4 (-8.2%, P < .001), and fellows (-8.7%; P < .001) had a decreased mean percentage character change. Senior faculty had a lower mean percentage character change (-6.88%, P < .001). Examination time and non-native faculty did not affect mean percentage character change.

Conclusions: A missed critical finding, critical finding flag, MR imaging technique, trainee level, faculty experience level, and non-native-trainee status are associated with a higher degree of modification of a preliminary report. Understanding the factors that influence the extent of report revisions could improve the quality of report generation and trainee education.

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Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Plot of model residuals by attending radiologists. For each attending radiologist, a boxplot of residuals is shown in black and the average residual value is depicted in gray.
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Plot of model residuals by trainees. For each trainee, a boxplot of residuals is shown in black and the average residual value is depicted in gray.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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