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：本研究旨在明确放射科报告应包含的信息内容，以及某大学医院中申请开具检查的医师更偏好的报告格式，以此改善主治医师与放射科医师之间的沟通协作。
材料与方法：调研对象需针对3个假想病例，在不同格式与详细程度的放射科报告中进行选择，并回答报告中哪些常见特征适合纳入。为确定不同报告的绝对偏好排序，本研究采用Kemeny-Young法。
结果：共有99名医师完成问卷，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。针对表现正常的超声检查、存在异常改变的超声检查以及计算机断层扫描（computed tomography），分别有54%、54%、53%的受访者选择了带有诊断意见或备注的结构化报告。受访者认为放射科报告应纳入的特征依次为：图像质量（92%受访者认可）、临床表现细节（91%）、诊断意见（89%）、检查技术（72%）以及造影剂使用相关信息（68%），其余被认为重要的特征还包括随访建议以及额外放射学或非放射学检查的相关提示。
结论：申请开具检查的医师显然更偏好带有放射科医师诊断意见或备注的结构化报告。他们重视检查质量、造影剂使用情况，以及随访与额外检查的相关建议。