Technologists Effect on the Accuracy of Mammography (TEAM)

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的总体目标是评估放射技术人员对社区实践中乳房X线照片的准确性和结果的影响，社区实践中放射技术人员特征的组合，以及放射技术人员个人特征与他们执行的乳房X线照片解释之间的关系。随着时间的推移，卡罗莱纳乳房X光检查登记处（CMR）对来自69个不同放射设施的575,000人进行了超过180万次乳房X光检查，在进行这项研究方面处于独特的地位。CMR数据包括人口统计学信息、个人健康史、家族健康史、乳腺癌风险因素、乳房X线检查结果和评估、随访护理建议、病理学结果和癌症结局。CMR记录还包括负责每次乳房X光检查的技术人员和放射科医生的信息。我们与整个北卡罗来纳州的放射学实践有着长期的合作关系，这将使我们能够使用作为本项目一部分开发的调查工具收集关于放射技术人员特征的准确和完整的数据。在接下来的四年里，我们将：1）使用现有的CMR数据来确定筛查和诊断乳腺X射线摄影的性能特征是否因技术人员而异，（对于屏幕电影和数字）从所有设施;和技术人员目前在48个设施执业2）制定和实施调查，以收集技术人员的全州样本的技术人员特征的数据; 3）描述技术人员特征的可变性; 4）估计技术人员对筛查和诊断性乳腺X射线摄影的性能的影响。这个项目将扩大我们对放射科医师最终解释和建议的可变性的理解。这项工作是新颖的。由于技术人员的培训和与放射科医生的工作方法是可以改变的，这项工作的影响可能是非常重要的，从而改善筛查结果。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The overall goals of this project are to assess the impact radiologic technologists have on the accuracy and outcomes of mammograms in community practice, the mix of radiologic technologist characteristics in community practice, and the relationship between radiologic technologists individual characteristics and the interpretation of the mammograms they perform. With data on more that 1,800,000 mammograms for 575,000 individuals from 69 different radiology facilities over time, the Carolina Mammography Registry (CMR) is in a unique position to conduct this research. CMR data includes demographic information, individual health history, family health history, breast cancer risk factors, mammographic findings and assessments, recommendations for follow up care, pathology findings, and cancer outcomes. CMR records also include information on the technologist and radiologist responsible for each mammogram. We have longstanding collaborative relationships with radiology practices throughout the state of North Carolina, which will allow us to collect accurate and complete data on radiologic technologists characteristics using a survey instrument to be developed as a part of this project. Over the next four years we will: 1) Use existing CMR data to determine whether performance characteristics of screening and diagnostic mammography vary by technologist, (for screen-film and digital) from all facilities; and for technologists currently practicing in 48 facilities 2) Develop and implement a survey to collect data on technologist characteristics for a statewide sample of technologists; 3) Describe the variability of technologist characteristics; 4) Estimate the effect of technologist on the performance of screening and diagnostic mammography. This project will expand our understanding of the variability in radiologists final interpretations and recommendations. This work is novel. As technologists training and method of working with their radiologists is something that can be altered, the impact of this work could be extremely important, leading to improvement in screening outcomes.