The effect of image interpretation training on the fracture recognition performance of radiographers

AIM: The aim of this study is to measure the effect of medical image interpretation training on radiographers ability to detect wrist fractures. To achieve this, the study aimed to establish any differences in performance between radiographers without image interpretation training and radiographers with interpretation training. In the course of the study, effects of number of years of radiographic experience and previous image interpretation experience. METHOD: A FROC study was performed to assess nine radiographers undergoing medical image interpretation training and to compare their performance with nineteen radiographers, from a previous study, without similar training. The radiographers evaluated thirty postero-anterior wrist images, in carefully monitored conditions, which included normal and abnormal distal radius'. The results were evaluated with Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analysis. AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and average times were statistically compared using a one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: The study showed there was no statistical difference between the groups of radiographers' AUC values (p≤0.98). There was no statistical difference in sensitivity (p≤0.31), while there was an improved performance noted in specificity (p≤0.06). The study found there was little correlation between increasing years of radiographic experience and improved performance (p≤0.52), but it was noted there was an improvement when radiographers' previous image interpretation experience was considered (p≤0.04). It was seen there was a weak correlation of increasing time spent on interpretation and improved performance (p≤0.70). CONCLUSION This work demonstrates that experienced technologist have inherent image interpretation skills that improves with training, allowing the performance to be comparable to non specialist radiologists.