Poor interpretation of chest X-rays by junior doctors

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology
• Diagnostic Accuracy

Background:

• Previous studies highlight insufficient radiological skills among medical students and junior doctors.
• Chest X-ray interpretation is a critical skill for junior doctors.
• No prior study assessed Danish junior doctors' chest X-ray interpretation abilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the radiological diagnostic skills of junior doctors in Denmark using chest X-rays.
• To assess the accuracy and confidence levels of diagnoses made by junior doctors.
• To determine if junior doctors meet established minimum requirements for chest X-ray interpretation.

Main Methods:

• 22 junior doctors (basic clinical education) interpreted a standardized set of ten chest X-rays.
• Participants used a multiple-choice format for diagnoses and rated confidence on a five-point Likert scale.
• Diagnoses were categorized into normal, chronic, acute, and hyperacute conditions.

Main Results:

• Participants achieved 51% accuracy in overall diagnoses.
• Confidence in diagnoses averaged 57.5%, indicating a potential overestimation of accuracy.
• Sensitivity was 0.49 (95% CI: 0.41-0.57) and specificity was 0.55 (95% CI: 0.41-0.68).

Conclusions:

• Junior doctors in basic clinical education do not meet the study's minimum requirements for chest X-ray diagnostic skills.
• The findings suggest a need for enhanced radiological training programs for junior doctors.
• Improving diagnostic accuracy in chest X-ray interpretation is crucial for patient care.