Radiographers and radiologists reporting plain radiograph requests from accident and emergency and general practice

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Imaging
• Healthcare Professions

Background:

• Traditionally, consultant radiologists exclusively report plain radiographs.
• There is a need to explore the capabilities of other healthcare professionals in radiological reporting.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the reporting accuracy of selectively trained radiographers and consultant radiologists for plain radiographs.
• To assess the impact of reporting discrepancies on clinical confidence and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective sample of 800 plain radiographs (400 A&E, 400 GP) was independently reported by two radiographers and eight consultant radiologists.
• A reference standard radiologist determined accuracy, and an independent consultant assessed the impact of incorrect reports on clinical decisions and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Reporting accuracy differences between radiographers and radiologists were minimal (1% for A&E, 4% for GP).
• Clinician confidence in diagnosis and management plans showed small differences (2-8%) based on report source.
• Impact on patient outcomes showed minor differences (1% for A&E, 11% for GP) between radiographer and radiologist reports.

Conclusions:

• Selectively trained radiographers show potential for an expanded role in reporting plain radiographs for A&E and GP patients.
• Further research in real-world clinical settings is recommended to validate these findings.