Reporting and interpreting red blood cell morphology : is there discordance between clinical pathologists and clinicians?

© 2014 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Détails bibliographiques
Publié dans:Veterinary clinical pathology. - 1975. - 43(2014), 4 vom: 02. Dez., Seite 487-95
Auteur principal: Newman, Ashleigh W (Auteur)
Autres auteurs: Rishniw, Mark, Behling-Kelly, Erica
Format: Article en ligne
Langue:English
Publié: 2014
Accès à la collection:Veterinary clinical pathology
Sujets:Journal Article Blood smear CBC hematology hemogram
Description
Résumé:© 2014 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.
BACKGROUND: Clinical pathologists (CPs) report RBC morphologic (RBC-M) changes to assist clinicians in prioritizing differential diagnoses. However, reporting is subjective, semiquantitative, and potentially biased. Reporting decisions vary among CPs, and reports may not be interpreted by clinicians as intended
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to survey clinicians and CPs about RBC-M terms and their clinical value, and identify areas of agreement and discordance
METHODS: Online surveys were distributed to small animal clinicians via the Veterinary Information Network and to CPs via the ASVCP listserv. A quiz assessed understanding of RBC-M terms among respondent groups. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses to survey questions, and quiz scores were compared among groups
RESULTS: Analyzable responses were obtained from 1662 clinicians and 82 CPs. Both clinicians and CPs considered some terms, e.g., agglutination, useful, whereas only CPs considered other terms, e.g., ghost cells, useful. All groups interpreted certain terms, e.g., Heinz bodies, correctly, whereas some clinicians misinterpreted others, e.g., eccentrocytes. Responses revealed that CPs often do not report RBC-M they consider insignificant, when present in low numbers. Twenty-eight percent of clinicians think CPs review all blood smears while only 19% of CPs report reviewing all smears
CONCLUSIONS: Important differences about the clinical relevance of certain RBC-M terms exist between clinicians and CPs. Inclusion of interpretive comments on CBC reports is the clearest way to ensure that RBC-M changes are interpreted as intended by the CP. Reporting practices should be examined critically to improve communication, transparency, and ultimately medical decisions
Description:Date Completed 20.11.2015
Date Revised 20.10.2016
published: Print-Electronic
Citation Status MEDLINE
ISSN:1939-165X
DOI:10.1111/vcp.12202