preprint · medRxiv
Radiology reports serve as the main communication channel between radiologists and clinicians, directing patient treatment and clinical decisions. A multicentre cross-sectional study surveyed 320 clinicians in the Dar es Salaam region of Tanzania to evaluate their perspectives on report quality. Overall, clinicians held favourable views, with 87 percent satisfied with report content and 86 percent reporting general satisfaction. The vast majority found the reports clear, relevant, and easy to understand. Furthermore, 83 percent preferred standardised reporting formats, and 93 percent favoured the inclusion of standardised lexicons or grading systems. However, the study revealed significant shortcomings regarding turnaround times. Clinicians highlighted delayed delivery of reports and a lack of timely direct communication concerning urgent and critical findings as major challenges in current practice.
Medical imaging capacity is growing rapidly in settings like Tanzania, making effective communication between radiologists and treating clinicians essential. Ensuring reports are clear, standardised, and delivered promptly directly influences patient outcomes. Identifying operational bottlenecks, such as slow turnaround times and poor alert systems for critical conditions, helps healthcare facilities refine procedures to deliver safer and more responsive clinical care.
The findings point to a practical need for hospital information software, structured reporting tools, and critical-alert notification systems for clinicians. Developers of digital health and radiology reporting software could apply these user preferences to design standardised templates and automated escalation systems for urgent findings. Because this is survey research identifying user requirements, it represents an applied, early-stage basis for workflow and software improvements.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Abstract Background Radiology reports are the primary communication tool between radiologists and clinicians. They guide diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care, yet in many settings there are no formal feedback mechanisms to improve their quality. In Tanzania, where medical imaging capacity is rapidly expanding, evidence on clinicians’ perceptions of report quality remains scarce. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in the Dar es Salaam region involving 320 clinicians. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire and Google Forms. Descriptive statistics were applied to summarize clinicians’ responses, and chi-square tests were used to assess associations. Results Most clinicians reported positive opinions regarding the understandability (79%), clarity (92%), and relevance (91%) of radiology reports. A standardized report format was preferred by 83% of respondents. Preferences for the location of positive findings were nearly evenly split (54% favored reporting them first vs. 46% at the respective anatomical location). Use of standardized lexicons or grading systems was supported by 93% of clinicians, while 55% valued clarification of radiological terms in the conclusion. Overall, 87% were satisfied with report content and 86% expressed general satisfaction, recognizing radiology reports as critical for clinical decision-making. Report delays and inadequate timely communication of urgent findings were identified as key shortcomings. Conclusions Clinicians in Dar es Salaam expressed overall satisfaction with the clarity, relevance, and structure of radiology reports, while highlighting the need for timely delivery and improved direct communication of critical findings.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.1101/2025.11.23.25340851
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
