The 60-Film Set with 8-index for Examining Physicians’ Proficiency in Reading Pneumoconiosis Chest X-rays

Abstract

abstract:The 60-film set was developed by experts (expert group) for examining 8 indices: sensitivity (X 1 ) and specificity (X 2 ) for pneumoconiosis, sensitivity(X 3 ) and specificity for (X 4 ) large opacities, sensitivity (X 5 ) and specificity (X 6 ) for pleural plaque, profusion increment consistency for small opacities (X 7 ), and shape differentiation for small opacities (X 8 ) of physicians' reading skills on pneumoconiosis X-ray according to ilO 2000 classification. The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of the exam film set for evaluating physicians' reading skills. 29 physicians (a1-group) and 24 physicians (a2-group) attended the 1st and 2nd "asian intensive Reader of Pneumoconioses" (aiR Pneumo) training course, respectively, and 22 physicians (b-group) attended brazilian training course. after training, they took examination of reading 60-film exam set. The examinees' reading results in terms of 8 indices were compared between the examinee groups and the Expert group by parametric unpaired t-test. The Examinee group consisting of a1-group, a2-group and b-group was inferior to the Expert group in all indices. There was no significant difference for X 7 of a1-group, X 7 and X 8 of a2-group (p>0.05) compared with the expert group. There was a significant difference in X 8 at p<0.05 between a1-group and a2-group, in X 3 at p<0.05 between a1-group and b-group, in both X 1 and in X 3 at p<0.05 between a2-group and b-group. accordingly, the 60-film set providing 8 indices designed might be a good method for evaluation of the physicians' reading proficiency at different training settings.

Proficiency in Reading Pneumoconiosis Radiographs Examined by the 60-film Set with 4-factor Structuring 8-index

“…Factor analysis showed that the Factor 2 scores in the A1-Group and A2-Group were significantly higher than those in the B-Group, which were consistent with the results as shown in Table 2 in our previous literature that the sensitivity for pneumoconiosis of A2-Group, and the sensitivity for large opacities of both A1-Group and A2-Group were higher than those in the B-Group 1) . This indicated that A1-Group and A2-Group tended to identify much more parenchymal abnormalities than the B-Group.…”

“…In the current authors' preceding paper 1) , we have suggested that 8 indices reflect reading proficiency for pneumoconiosis in individuals and groups and be used appropriately for assessing examination results from reading 60-film sets: sensitivity for pneumoconiosis, specificity for pneumoconiosis, sensitivity for large opacities, specificity for large opacities, sensitivity for pleural plaque, specificity for pleural plaque, profusion increment consistency for small opacities, and shape differentiation for small opacities. The exam films, the correct answers, the criteria for 8 indices in 60 exam films, and the assessment algorithm were described in the Appendix in the literature 1) .…”

“…The exam films, the correct answers, the criteria for 8 indices in 60 exam films, and the assessment algorithm were described in the Appendix in the literature 1) .…”

“…There were 29 physicians (A1-Group) and 24 physicians (A2-Group) attending the 1st and 2nd "Asian Intensive Reader of Pneumoconiosis" (AIR Pneumo), respectively, and 22 physicians attending the Brazilian Training Course (B-Group) took examination of reading 60-film set described extensively in the authors' paper 1) .…”

“…The summary of the reading results in terms of the 8 indices for all groups was shown in Table 2 in our preceding paper 1) .…”