Radiology report format preferred by requesting physicians: prospective analysis in a population of physicians at a university hospital

Abstract Objective: To improve communication between attending physicians and radiologists by defining which information should be included in radiology reports and which reporting format is preferred by requesting physicians at a university hospital. Materials and Methods: Respondents were asked to choose among reports with different formats and levels of detail, related to three hypothetical cases, and questioned as to which characteristics commonly found in radiology reports are appropriate for inclusion. To assign the absolute order of preference of the different reports, the Kemeny-Young method was used. Results: Ninety-nine physicians completed the questionnaires (40.4% were resident physicians; 31.3% were preceptors of residency programs; and 28.3% were professors of medicine). For ultrasound with normal findings, ultrasound showing alterations, and computed tomography, respectively, 54%, 59%, and 53% of the respondents chose structured reports with an impression or comment. According to the respondents, the characteristics that should be included in the radiology report are the quality of the image, details of the clinical presentation, diagnostic impression, examination technique, and information about contrast administration, selected by 92%, 91%, 89%, 72%, and 68%, respectively. Other characteristics that were considered important were recommendations on follow-up and additional radiological or non-radiological investigation. Conclusion: Requesting physicians apparently prefer structured reports with a radiologist impression or comment. Information such as the quality of the examination, the contrast agent used, and suggestions regarding follow-up and additional investigation are valued.

摘要
研究目的：为改善主治医师与放射科医师之间的沟通，本研究明确了放射科报告需包含的信息内容，以及某大学医院内开单医师更偏好的报告格式。
材料与方法：调研对象需针对3例假想病例，从格式不同、详细程度各异的报告中作出选择，并被问及放射科报告中哪些常见特征适宜纳入报告。为确定不同报告的绝对偏好排序，本研究采用了肯尼-杨法（Kemeny-Young method）。
结果：共计99名医师完成了问卷调研，其中40.4%为住院医师，31.3%为住院医师培训项目带教医师，28.3%为医学教授。针对结果正常的超声检查、存在异常表现的超声检查以及计算机断层扫描（computed tomography，CT），分别有54%、59%和53%的受访者选择了带有放射科医师诊断印象或注释的结构化报告。
受访者认为，放射科报告应包含的特征及对应认可占比分别为：图像质量92%、临床表现细节91%、诊断印象89%、检查技术72%以及造影剂使用信息68%。其余被认为重要的特征还包括随访建议，以及额外的放射学或非放射学检查建议。
结论：开单医师显然更偏好带有放射科医师诊断印象或注释的结构化报告。诸如检查质量、所用造影剂，以及随访与额外检查建议等信息均受到重视。