Clinicians' preferences for radiology reports in a tertiary hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa

Radiology reports are the primary medium through which radiologists communicate imaging findings to referring clinicians. The format, structure, and mode of delivery of these reports influence clinical decision-making and patient management. The study assessed clinicians' preferences for the format, structure, and mode of delivery of radiology reports and whether demographic characteristics affect these preferences.

A cross-sectional hospital-based descriptive and analytical study was conducted among 559 eligible clinicians. Data were collected via a structured online questionnaire, comprising closed-ended multiple-choice questions. The generated data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and Monte-Carlo simulation tests assessed associations between clinicians' preferences and demographic characteristics.

Of 559 eligible clinicians, 403 responded (72.1%). The majority preferred either hybrid formats (44.4%) or structured format (43.9%), while only 11.7% favoured the narrative. Organ/system-based subheadings were the most preferred report structure (75.9%). Printed copies (64.3%) and digital access via electronic health records (58.1%) were the most common delivery preferences. Gender was significantly associated with reporting format preference (P = 0.009), while cadre/designation was not associated with format preference (P = 0.132) but was significantly associated with preferred report structure (P = 0.001). Preference for organ/system-based subheadings was particularly high among clinicians in General Practice (90.9%), Oncology (83.3%) and Obstetrics/Gynaecology (83.1%). Psychiatry and Orthopaedics had relatively higher proportions of clinicians preferring disease-specific headings (25.0% and 41.7%, respectively).

Clinicians strongly favoured hybrid and structured reports, with organ/system-based subheadings and accessible delivery methods. Demographics play an important role in shaping their preferences, thus the need for the adoption of standardised reporting tailored to clinicians' needs.