Perception of clinicians about diagnostic radiological errors in The University of Science and Technology Hospital, Sana'a-Yemen

Abstract EN

Objective: To identify the magnitude and causes of radiological errors as perceived by resident and consultant clinicians in the University of Science and Technology (UST)Hospital, Sana’a -Yemen.

Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was used to assess the magnitude and causes of radiological errors.

It was distributed among all clinicians in UST Hospital.

Results: Of 40 residents and consultants from the UST Hospital invited to participate in the present study, 52.5%agreed to join the study.

Of them, 81.0% reported the notice of diagnostic radiological errors during their daily practice,wherethe majority of daily noticed errors (64.7%) were in the range of1–10 diagnostic errors.

More than half of radiological errors were reported in the interpretation of ultrasound, and abdomen was de-scribed as being the most frequent body part with diagnostic radiological errors (65.0%).

The respondent clini-cians thought that poor communication between radiologists and clinicians was the most frequent cause of di-agnostic errors, being reported by29.0% of clinicians.However, 24.0% and 19.0% of clinicians attributed errors to the lack of experience and knowledge of radiologists, respectively.

Conclusions: Errors in radiological diagnosis are still common in Yemen.

Establishing a good healthcare system with a proper communication between the radiologists and clinicians is critical to identify and minimize these errors.

Peer review and hands-on training are important for newly joined radiologists.