Recent measures to improve radiology reporting: perspectives from primary care physicians

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Medical Communication
• Primary Care

Background:

• Improving radiology reporting is a key area of interest.
• Potential enhancements include radiologist involvement in result delivery and clear report recommendations.
• Primary care physician (PCP) perspectives on these changes are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To survey primary care physicians regarding their opinions on proposed radiology reporting improvements.
• To understand PCP preferences for result delivery and the impact of radiologist recommendations.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to 229 primary care physicians.
• Responses were collected confidentially via an internal list server.
• 100 responses were analyzed, yielding a 43.6% response rate.

Main Results:

• Most PCPs are satisfied with current radiology reporting and recommendations.
• 95% of PCPs believe ordering physicians should deliver exam results; none want radiologists to deliver results directly to patients.
• 94% of PCPs feel medicolegally obligated by radiologist recommendations, with wording and placement influencing this perception.

Conclusions:

• Primary care physicians prefer to communicate radiology results to patients themselves.
• PCPs feel medicolegally bound by radiologist recommendations, with report wording and format significantly impacting this obligation.
• Radiologists should consider PCP preferences and the influence of recommendation presentation when modifying reporting practices.