TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical impact of radiograph misinterpretation in a pediatric ED and the effect of physician training level
AU - Walsh-Kelly, Christine M.
AU - Melzer-Lange, Marlene D.
AU - Hennes, Halim M.
AU - Lye, Patricia
AU - Hegenbarth, Mary
AU - Sty, John
AU - Starshak, Robert
PY - 1995/5
Y1 - 1995/5
N2 - Radiograph interpretation in the pediatric emergency department (ED) is commonly performed by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) attendings or physicians-in-training. This study examines the effect of physician training level on radiograph interpretation and the clinical impact of false-negative radiograph interpretations. Data were collected on 1,471 radiographs of the chest, abdomen, extremity, lateral neck, and cervical spine interpreted by PEM attendings, one PEM fellow, one physician assistant, and emergency medicine, pediatric and family practice residents. Two hundred radiographs (14%) were misinterpreted, including 141 chest (16%), 24 extremity (8%), 20 abdomen (12%), 14 lateral neck (18%), and 1 cervical spine radiograph (2%). Physicians-in-training misinterpreted 16% of their radiographs versus 11% for PEM attendings (P = .01). Twenty (1.4%) radiographs had clinically significant (false-negative) misinterpretations, including 1.7% of physician-in-training and 0.8% of attending interpretations (P = 0.15). No morbidity resulted from the delay in correct interpretation. Radiograph misinterpretation by ED physicians occurs but is unlikely to result in significant morbidity.
AB - Radiograph interpretation in the pediatric emergency department (ED) is commonly performed by pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) attendings or physicians-in-training. This study examines the effect of physician training level on radiograph interpretation and the clinical impact of false-negative radiograph interpretations. Data were collected on 1,471 radiographs of the chest, abdomen, extremity, lateral neck, and cervical spine interpreted by PEM attendings, one PEM fellow, one physician assistant, and emergency medicine, pediatric and family practice residents. Two hundred radiographs (14%) were misinterpreted, including 141 chest (16%), 24 extremity (8%), 20 abdomen (12%), 14 lateral neck (18%), and 1 cervical spine radiograph (2%). Physicians-in-training misinterpreted 16% of their radiographs versus 11% for PEM attendings (P = .01). Twenty (1.4%) radiographs had clinically significant (false-negative) misinterpretations, including 1.7% of physician-in-training and 0.8% of attending interpretations (P = 0.15). No morbidity resulted from the delay in correct interpretation. Radiograph misinterpretation by ED physicians occurs but is unlikely to result in significant morbidity.
KW - Radiographs
KW - emergency medicine
KW - risk management
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0029019714&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0029019714&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/0735-6757(95)90196-5
DO - 10.1016/0735-6757(95)90196-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 7755814
AN - SCOPUS:0029019714
SN - 0735-6757
VL - 13
SP - 262
EP - 264
JO - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - American Journal of Emergency Medicine
IS - 3
ER -