James Ryan Hogan MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Mina L. Labib MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Justin Alpert MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Judith Korek Amorosa MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent to which radiology residents use the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria (ACR AC) to research proper imaging choices during training.

An online survey was created to assess the resources that radiology residents use to research appropriate imaging studies. After gathering demographic information, the survey asks how often respondents disagree with the imaging test ordered and recommend a better imaging test, the resources that respondents most frequently use to research optimal imaging modalities, whether respondents are aware of the ACR AC, how frequently respondents refer to the ACR AC, how respondents first learned of the ACR AC, and whether respondents use the ACR AC in preparing for journal club and conference.

31.8% of respondents disagree with the imaging test ordered at least 25% of the time, and 37.5% of respondents recommend a better test “most of the time” when disagreement occurs. Nearly all respondents are aware of the ACR AC. 40.7% of those surveyed report using the ACR AC a few times per month, with 37.2% using it a few times per year. 8.3% of junior respondents ranked the ACR AC among their most frequently used resources, compared to 30.4% of senior respondents. 41.2% of respondents first learned of the ACR AC through an attending physician, 16.5% learned of it from another resident, and 5.9% learned of the resource from their program director. 16.7% of respondents use the resource in preparing for journal club, and 28.9% use it in preparing for conference.

Disagreement with ordered imaging tests and the recommendation of better tests is common among respondents. Moreover, nearly all respondents are aware of the ACR AC. However, they access the ACR AC infrequently. Moreover, junior respondents are less likely to utilize the resource than are senior respondents. Finally, only a small minority of respondents learned of the ACR AC from their program director, and relatively few respondents utilize the resource in preparation for journal club and conference. These findings suggest that greater efforts are required to encourage use of the ACR AC early in residency, especially by program directors.

The American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria is an evidence-based resource that can enhance radiology resident education and reduce the number of suboptimal imaging tests ordered.

Hogan, J, Labib, M, Alpert, J, Amorosa, J, Radiology Resident Usage of the American College of Radiology Appropriateness Criteria.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14002989.html