RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 G15(P) Paediatricians’ Competence and Attitudes Towards Their Diagnostic Radiology Skills
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP A13
OP A13
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2013-304107.028
VO 98
IS Suppl 1
A1 Sundaram, M
A1 Jawad, M
A1 Tabor, A
YR 2013
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/98/Suppl_1/A13.1.abstract
AB Aims Many clinicians find themselves self-interpreting the radiological images of their patients, especially in the acute management setting whilst on-call. The aim of this study was to assess the competence and attitudes of paediatric clinicians towards their diagnostic radiology skills. Methods We conducted a nine item self-administered questionnaire on 48 trainees and paediatricians. The domains of this questionnaire included previous formal training in diagnostic radiology at different stages of training, indication for self-taught radiology and satisfaction in current knowledge towards interpreting different types of radiology imaging. We also asked if there was an x-ray meeting in their department and whether there was a need for formal training in diagnostic radiology. Descriptive data were obtained. Results 39.6% (n = 19) of our respondents were consultants and 41.7% (n = 20) were registrars or associate specialists, all of which had a formal x-ray meeting in their current department. There was a significant difference between the number of respondents who attended a formal course in radiology interpretation, and those who were self-taught (18.8% vs. 87.5% p < 0.001). However, nearly all respondents (95.8%, n = 46) felt there was a need for formal diagnostic radiology teaching, to be arranged either formally (58.7%) or locally (41.3%). Conclusion The wide variation in methods, yet high prevalence of self-taught diagnostic radiology highlights a need for formal training, reinforced by the fact that nearly all respondents’ feel formal teaching is necessary.