Technologists Effect on the Accuracy of Mammography (TEAM)

描述(由申请人提供)：本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光检查的准确性和结果的影响、社区实践中放射技术人员的特征组合，以及放射技术人员的个人特征与他们所进行的乳房X光检查的解释之间的关系。随着时间的推移，来自69个不同放射机构的575,000人的1,800,000多张乳房X光照片的数据，卡罗莱纳州乳房X光摄影登记处(CMR)处于进行这项研究的独特地位。CMR数据包括人口统计信息、个人健康史、家庭健康史、乳腺癌风险因素、乳房X光检查结果和评估、后续护理建议、病理结果和癌症结果。CMR记录还包括负责每一次乳房X光检查的技术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该项目的一部分开发的调查仪器来收集关于放射技术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房X光检查的性能特征是否因所有设施的技术员(屏幕-胶片和数字)而有所不同；以及对于目前在48个设施中执业的技术员2)制定和实施一项调查，以全州范围的技术员样本收集技术员特征的数据；3)描述技术员特征的变异性；4)估计技术员对筛查和诊断乳房摄影性能的影响。这个项目将扩大我们对放射科医生最终解释和建议中的可变性的理解。这部作品很新奇。由于技术人员的培训和与他们的放射科医生合作的方法是可以改变的，这项工作的影响可能是极其重要的，从而导致筛查结果的改善。

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.