Special Article Chest X-ray interpretation in UK

Purpose: This survey investigated current practice in intensive care unit radiology reporting using a survey tool. We ascertained physician attitudes regarding best practice. Methods: A national survey was sent by email to a sample of intensive care units throughout UK between March and October 2014. The questionnaire determined current practice in reporting chest X-ray in intensive care units. It also identified differences between ‘routine ’ and emergency and out-of-hours service. Further, it investigated how reports were documented and physician preferences for perceived best practice. Results: Of 146 intensive care units contacted, 55 % completed the survey. Of the sample, radiologists were solely responsible for chest X-ray reporting in 43.7%, intensive care unit clinicians in 33.7 % and joint reporting in 25 % of intensive care units. The reporting clinician on intensive care unit was a consultant in 67 % of the centres. Written reports by radiologists were provided in 71.7 % of cases. This was only 54.5 % when intensive care unit clinicians reported chest X-rays. For all routine and emergency films, written reports by radiologists occurred in 63.1 % of responders. Out-of-hours, 54.9 % of clinicians described different reporting practice to normal hours. Regarding perceived best practice, 64.8 % of clinicians preferred joint daily reporting, whilst 27 % preferred a radiologist’s formal report. For emergencies, 55.2 % of the survey recipients preferred a joint report. Conclusion: Based on this cohort of UK intensive care units, at present, there appears to be a lack of a standardised system for image reporting. There are discrepancies in who reports chest X-rays, written documentation and the timing of reports, more so out-of-hours. Clinicians suggest that joint reporting should be the standard