Using a Website to Teach a Structured Reporting System, the Brain Tumor Reporting and Data System

Abstract

Background: The Brain Tumor Reporting and Data System (BT-RADS) is a proposed standardized radiology reporting scheme for magnetic resonance imagings in brain tumor patients. A website was created to introduce the classification system and to promote its use during daily radiology readouts with trainees.

Objectives: To demonstrate how a website can help implement a structured reporting at a tertiary academic facility.

Methods: A website, www.btrads.com, including visual aids and an interactive scoring tool was developed to educate trainees about a structured reporting system for brain tumor magnetic resonance imagings. Number of website visitors, resource downloads, and scoring tool users was gathered during the study period of May 1, 2018 to April 30, 2019. Authors surveyed a group of 71 radiology trainees and 34 faculty physicians who care for brain tumor patients to assess the perceived educational and clinical value of BT-RADS.

Results: The website was visited by 10,058 unique users in 1 year. The most commonly downloaded support material was the full guide (382 downloads). The interactive scoring tool was used 267 times. The use of BT-RADS at a single institution over 12 months reached over 70%. While survey results from trainees did not reach statistical significance, faculty oncologists, neurosurgeons, and radiologists felt that BT-RADS was a valuable clinical tool that improved interdisciplinary communication, facilitated educational discussions, and helped make treatment decisions.

Conclusions: A website designed to implement a novel structured radiology report facilitated template acceptance across a large neuroradiology section. Groups seeking to modify reporting practices should consider using a website.