To keep or reject, that is the question - A survey on radiologists and radiographers’ assessments of plain radiography images

IntroductionThis study aimed to survey radiographers and radiologists' assessment of plain radiographs identify the imaging clinicians’ differences in acceptance image quality.MethodAn online, questionnaire was distributed among (n = 116) radiologists 76) a hospital trust Norway, including 30 clinical cases (one short referral text) that were divided into 3 categories; keep, could keep reject, based on European guidelines. When rejecting, respondents identified main reason by ticking list (positioning, collimation, centering, artifact or exposure error). Group explored using 2-tailed chi-squared test. Inter-subjectivity measured Cohen's kappa for multi-rater sample.ResultsIn total, 36% 42) 14% 14) responded survey. Total response rate 30% (56/192). Analysis showed significant difference between categories Reject (χ2 6.3, df 1, p 0.01), Could identifying as keeping more images compared radiographers. Agreement (Cohen's κ: 0,39; 95% CI: 0.30–0.48; < 0.001) 0,23; 0.09–0.37; respectively, is fair. The most common rejecting an suboptimal positioning. Suboptimal collimation constituted 15% rejected radiographers, 5% radiologists. Centering, artifacts error quite similar rates reasons rejection.ConclusionRadiographers seem agree good quality images, however, reluctant accept lower than radiologists.Implications practiceFurther research needed. This enable reduction reject increase conventional X-ray examinations.