Evaluating the impact of enhanced resident training on independent acute reporting in radiology

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a structured training programme and earlier sign-off processes for radiology residents reduce the proportion of acute scans requiring a subsequent in-hour consultant review (CONREV).

A retrospective comparative analysis was conducted on all acute inpatient and emergency department (ED) scans performed in 2014 and 2022 at a single tertiary centre (University Hospitals of Leicester National Health Service (NHS) Trust). Key interventions introduced after 2014 included the establishment of the Dispersed Radiology East Midlands Academy (DREaM) Academy, enhanced on-call training, earlier acute reporting exposure for junior residents via ST1 on-call, and an in-house post-final Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists (FRCR) 2B assessment.

There was a statistically significant reduction in the proportion of CONREV cases from 69.6% (13,977/20,091) in 2014 to 63.2% (22,155/35,081) in 2022 (P<0.001). The reduction was most notable among senior residents (ST4/5), reflecting increased confidence and competence in independent reporting. Additionally, a redistribution of consultant-reviewed cases between neuroradiology and body imaging indicates evolving training priorities and greater resident confidence in computed tomography (CT) head interpretation.

These findings support the effectiveness of enhanced resident training and sign-off processes in optimising workflow efficiency and managing increased workload.