Clinicians’ Perceptions of Breast Ultrasound Reporting for Women Using the BI-RADS Lexicon at a Tertiary Hospital in Uganda: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Abstract

In the era of breast cancer which still remains a high cause of mortality among women in many parts of the world, the BI-RADS breast ultrasound reporting system has been recommended to standardize communication of breast findings and improve on the management of women with suspected breast cancer. This study aimed at exploring the perceptions of clinicians on the use of the BI-RADS system to report breast ultrasound findings. It was an exploratory qualitative study conducted at Mulago National Referral hospital, a tertiary hospital treating women with breast cancer in Uganda. Individual interviews were conducted with the clinicians (doctors) working in the breast clinic of the hospital. The responses were audio-recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was employed to develop the themes from the responses. Overall, the clinicians interviewed expressed a positive perception towards use of the BI-RADS system when reporting breast ultrasound findings. They reported that BI-RADS has positively influenced the management of women with breast masses who are identified quickly. Three key themes emerged from the responses namely: 1) Ease of interpretation of reports; 2) Positive impact on patient management and 3) Limited knowledge of BI-RADS. The study has demonstrated that the BI-RADS system eases the work of clinicians when making management decisions for women with suspected breast masses. Continued training on use of BI-RADS involving clinicians and radiologists is thus recommended.