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Volume 4 Supplement 1

Symposium Mammographicum 2002

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Are there demographic differences in film reading skill?

Since 1991, the majority of UK breast screening radiologists have annually taken part in the Personal Performance in Mammographic Screening (PERFORMS) self-assessment scheme. In addition to reporting a set of difficult mammographic cases, they have also completed a questionnaire where they indicated their normal screening practices (e.g. number of cases read per week, mammographic views used and the time of day they usually read screening cases) and demographic details (e.g. age, gender and experience).

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there were any correlations between these questionnaire data and the various performance measures provided by the self-assessment film sets. Additionally, any change in response to the questionnaire over time was examined. All data presented are anonymous. There were no significant differences for gender, but significant correlations were found for some of the questionnaire responses and performance. For example, experience and the number of cases read per week were positively correlated with some performance measures.

In conclusion, different screening practices and some demographic differences can have an effect on an individual's performance in interpreting a self-assessment film set. This finding may also be applicable to actual breast screening performance.

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Gale, A., Cowley, H., Bateman, S. et al. Are there demographic differences in film reading skill?. Breast Cancer Res 4 (Suppl 1), 62 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr522

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr522

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