Verbal notification of radiology results: are radiologists meeting expectations?

Delayed communication of radiographic findings is associated with poor patient outcomes and significant medicolegal risk. Radiologists verbally contact referring practitioners with urgent findings, although practitioner's expectations regarding notification have rarely been examined.

To assess differences in preferred practice between radiologists and referring practitioners in the verbal communication of urgent radiology findings.

For 33 clinical stems, respondents were asked if they would issue (radiologists) or expect to receive (referring practitioners) verbal notification of results or routine written communication only. Surveys were emailed to radiologists and referring practitioners of varying experience at a tertiary referral hospital in Melbourne, Victoria.

A total of 97 survey responses was received. Eighty responses were from referring practitioners and 17 from radiologists. Referring practitioners were seen to slightly prefer verbal notification more often than issued by radiologists overall (61%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 57-66% verbal notification expected vs 58%; 95% CI 52-64% issued). More senior referring practitioners with greater than 10 years' experience expected verbal notification more often (67%; 95% CI 59-75%), and more senior radiologists issued verbal reports less often (54%; 95% CI 39-69%). More junior referring practitioners, for example, registrars or fellows, expected notification less often overall (59%; 95% CI 43-76%). Subgroup analysis demonstrated statistically significant differences in notification preferences for certain clinical scenarios.

Overall results show fair correlation between referrer's expectations of verbal notification and the provision of verbal notification by radiologists. However, there were discrepancies in the practice and preferences of more junior and senior practitioners in certain clinical scenarios.