Assessing surgical residents' imaging interpretation skills

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Radiology
• General Surgery

Background:

• Accurate interpretation of radiologic images is a critical skill for general surgery residents.
• Objective data evaluating residents' proficiency in interpreting imaging studies is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the ability of general surgery residents to accurately interpret basic radiologic images.
• To identify areas for improvement in radiology education within general surgery training programs.

Main Methods:

• A 30-item web-based test featuring diverse radiologic modalities was administered.
• Participants included 74 general surgery residents from 6 accredited programs and a control group of radiology residents.
• Performance was evaluated across various imaging types, including X-rays, CT scans (head and body), and ultrasound.

Main Results:

• General surgery residents achieved a mean score of 75% on the interpretation test.
• Radiology residents scored significantly higher (83%) than general surgery residents (p=0.006).
• Proficiency varied by modality, with higher accuracy in CT (body) and tube/line localization, and lower accuracy in X-rays and ultrasound.

Conclusions:

• General surgery residents demonstrate a foundational ability to interpret basic radiology images, achieving 75% accuracy.
• Senior residents showed greater proficiency in interpreting CT (body) and ultrasound images compared to junior residents.
• Incorporating dedicated radiological education into general surgery curricula is recommended to improve diagnostic skills and patient care.