RADIOLOGY RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF BREAST IMAGING PROCEDURAL TRAINING AND COMPETENCY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Background: The increasing demand for breast imaging services, coupled with a shortage of subspecialized radiologists, highlights the need for radiology residents to achieve adequate competency in breast imaging procedures. This study evaluated residents’ perceptions of their training exposure, need for additional training, confidence in performing procedures after residency, and the relationships among these factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 85 graduating radiology residents from multiple training centers in Saudi Arabia who completed their final examinations in Jeddah. A structured questionnaire assessed residents’ training experience—defined as observation, supervised performance, and independent performance—in five breast imaging procedures: ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, ultrasound-guided core biopsy, stereotactic core biopsy, needle-wire localization, and galactography. Perceived need for further training and confidence in future practice were also evaluated.

Results: Training exposure varied substantially across procedures. The proportion of residents reporting ≥5 observations ranged from 14.5% to 73.4%, supervised performance from 10.8% to 41.6%, and independent performance from 11.0% to 26.3%. The perceived need for additional training was high (65.9%–94.7%), whereas confidence in performing procedures ranged from 18.2% to 68.8%. Significant positive correlations were observed between procedural exposure (observation and performance) and confidence (p < 0.05), while no significant association was found between perceived need for additional training and confidence.

Conclusion: Radiology residents report limited exposure to several breast imaging procedures, which is associated with lower confidence in independent practice. These findings underscore the need for enhanced procedural training, including increased hands-on experience and structured competency-based curricula, to better prepare residents for clinical practice.