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

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.