Ekurhuleni District Junior Doctors’ Accuracy Rate in Neuro-Emergency CTB Interpretation

Abstract

Background: Brain neurologic emergencies are among the top causes of disabilities, frequently causing irreversible brain damage. In neuro-emergencies, immediate management is essential, as early neurological deterioration commonly occurs within the first few hours. Therefore, early imaging and prompt interpretation are crucial. Objectives: This study assesses the ability of junior medical doctors to identify important emergency findings in CT brain neuroimaging. Method: A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted in three hospitals in the Ekurhuleni District from 30th August to 03 September 2024. Participants were involved in structured training on interpreting neuro-emergency CTB scans. Before and after training, surveys were employed to evaluate the changes in diagnostic accuracy. Results: Post-training, the mean accuracy improved from 69.3% to 72.9%, representing a statistically significant increase of 3.24% with P-value 0.006. The most notable improvements were observed in detecting diffuse axonal, space-occupying lesions and subarachnoid haemorrhages. While a decrease in the accuracy of identifying subdural haemorrhages was noted. Conclusion: The study highlights the advantages and improvements that the targeted training programs may have in enhancing junior doctors' skills in reading CTB images in emergency settings. It also emphasises the importance of continuous training initiatives and multidisciplinary meetings to assist in the enhancement of diagnostic accuracy and ultimately patient management. Contribution: This research contributes to the pool of literature by addressing a substantial void in medical education and training, demonstrating the effectiveness of a focused intervention to improve diagnostic precision in neuro-emergencies. The findings suggest that juniors' interpretation of essential neuroimaging may be significantly improved by concise, organised training programs, thereby improving patient outcomes in emergency rooms.