PROFILE OF US RADIOLOGISTS AT MID-DECADE - OVERVIEW OF FINDINGS FROM THE 1995 SURVEY OF RADIOLOGISTS

PURPOSE: To profile the demographic, professional, and practice charac teristics of diagnostic radiologists and radiation oncologists in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires mailed to a natio nal stratified random sample of 3,024 diagnostic radiologists, radiati on oncologists, and nuclear medicine specialists yielded a 75% respons e rate. Weighted data reflect what responses would be if all radiologi sts had been surveyed and had responded. RESULTS: Among professionally active, posttraining radiologists in 1995, 14% were women; 12% were r adiation oncologists, 62% diagnostic generalists, and 26% diagnostic s ubspecialists; 92% were board certified in radiology; 48% had postresi dency fellowship training; 69% were in a position where practice owner ship was a potential, and of these, 80% were practice owners. Enjoymen t of work was less the greater the perceived effect of managed care on a radiologists practice, but average work satisfaction was unchanged from 1990. Among radiologists aged 55 years or older, the percentage w ho were retired was unchanged from 1990. Average hours worked by profe ssionally active radiologists aged 65 years or older increased since 1 990. CONCLUSION: Despite the spread of managed care and other trends t hat affect radiologists, surprisingly, few changes were evident in the demographic or professional characteristics of U.S. radiologists in 1 995 compared with 1990.