The Effect of Teaching Search Strategies on Perceptual Performance

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Radiology
• Diagnostic Accuracy

Background:

• Effective search strategies are crucial for accurate radiology interpretation.
• Detecting lung nodules on computed tomography (CT) requires efficient visual search skills.
• Trainee performance in nodule detection can be influenced by the search methods employed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of teaching specific search strategies on radiology trainees' accuracy in detecting lung nodules.
• To compare the effectiveness of 'scanning' versus 'drilling' search strategies in a computed tomography (CT) nodule detection task.

Main Methods:

• A randomized crossover design was used with 19 junior radiology residents.
• Participants completed nodule detection tests under three conditions: free search, after 'scanning' instruction, and after 'drilling' instruction.
• True positive (TP) and false positive (FP) scores, along with scroll behavior, were recorded and analyzed using mixed-design ANOVA.

Main Results:

• Search strategy instruction significantly affected scroll behavior, TP, and FP scores (P < 0.001).
• The 'scanning' strategy yielded significantly lower TP scores compared to both 'drilling' and free search.
• The 'drilling' strategy resulted in significantly fewer FP scores than the free search strategy (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Teaching a 'drilling' search strategy is more effective than a 'scanning' strategy for improving lung nodule detection in radiology trainees.
• The 'drilling' method enhances diagnostic accuracy by increasing true positives and reducing false positives during CT interpretation.