Survey Research Reporting in Radiology Publications: A Review of 2017 to 2018

To assess survey research methods and scope based on reporting in the current radiology literature.

A HIPAA-compliant review of the radiology literature was performed. The PubMed/MEDLINE database was queried for survey-based studies published in 2017 and 2018. Citations were screened for inclusion in a multistep process. Inclusion criteria were studies published in 2017 or 2018; publication in one of the four major US radiology journals; and utilization of a survey as a part of study methodology and results. Studies were coded by publication characteristics and survey methodological features. Data were summarized as percentages with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

A total of 103 studies were included in the analysis. Studies were published in all the included journals (36.9% Academic Radiology; 21.4% American Journal of Roentgenology; 31.1% Journal of the American College of Radiology; and 10.7% Radiology) and spanned multiple topics of research (28.2% education, 27.2% patient centered, 31.1% physician practice, and 10.7% physician wellness). Surveys were most commonly distributed through an online tool (62.1%; 95% CI: 52-71.5). Most studies did not report methods related to questionnaire design before distribution (57.3%; 95% CI: 47.2-67), and only 66.0% (95% CI: 56.0-75.1) reported survey response rate.

Survey-based research is common in the radiology literature and spans multiple disciplines, populations being surveyed, and journals. Utilizing best-practice survey guidelines may help improve the homogeneity and generalizability of survey-based research in our field.