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 (Al-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 /-test. The Examinee Group consisting of Al-Group, A2-Group and B-Group was inferior to the Expert Group in all indices. There was no significant difference for X 7 of Al-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 /K0.05 between Al-Group and A2-Group, in X 3 at / > < 0.05 between Al-Group and B-Group, in both Xj and in X 3 at/ > 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. © 2012 National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.