Daniel Knight Powell MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Roy Andrew Holliday MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Michael Chung MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sandor Szilagyi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

James Eric Silberzweig MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Evaluate the recommendation to avoid unsophisticated and vague terms in our reports.  To obtain a consensus on using terms expressing doubt and limitation and the importance of language choice.  

We asked faculty and residents by email to avoid the terms "gross" and "grossly" in their reports, suggesting alternatives (e.g. obvious) or to avoid them altogether to eschew vagary and hedging. We conducted an automated search of our radiology report database and compared the incidence of these terms in reports 3 months prior and 3 months after, surveying residents and faculty about avoiding the terms and the value of standardized language.    

Before the recommendation, 8.6% of (23,420) resident reports and 6.7% of (95,442) faculty reports contained the terms. After the recommendation, 4.2% of (23,868) resident reports and 3.9% of (96,372) faculty reports contained the terms (p < 0.01). Before the recommendation, 20.7% of (58) faculty and 12.5% of (40) residents used gross and grossly in greater than 15% of reports; 46.6% of faculty and 50% of residents used the terms in fewer than 5% of reports.  After the recommendation, only 10.3% of faculty and one resident (who had not used them before) used the terms in more than 15% of reports; 75.9% of faculty and 75.7% of residents used the terms in fewer than 5% of reports, suggesting this as an appropriate incidence. Surveys showed 57.1% of (14) faculty who used the terms before and 12.5% of (16) residents prefer to still use the terms. 21.4% of (14) faculty and zero residents, found the transition difficult. 91.9% of (37) attendings and 90.1% of (11) residents value standardized reporting. However, only 70.3% of (37) faculty and 72.7% of (11) residents want more language guidelines at our institution.  

There was high compliance and overwhelming support for standardized language. There was apparent consensus that the terms “gross” and “grossly,” can be useful 5% of the time.  

The study suggests that standardization of descriptive and appropriate terms will be well received. Results also suggest a consensus that expression of doubt or hedging is occasionally important.

Powell, D, Holliday, R, Chung, M, Szilagyi, S, Silberzweig, J, Universal Reporting Language: Elimination of Inappropriate Terms.  Radiological Society of North America 2012 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 25 - November 30, 2012 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2012/12021767.html