ROLE OF FAULTY VISUAL-SEARCH IN THE SATISFACTION OF SEARCH EFFECT IN CHEST RADIOGRAPHY

Rationale and Objectives. The authors tested the hypothesis that satis faction of search effect, which is associated with the failure to dete ct native chest abnormalities in the presence of simulated nodules, is caused by reduced gaze on the native abnormalities. Materials and Met hods. Gaze dwell time of 20 radiologists was recorded for the region a round abnormalities on images. Ten radiographs were reviewed, none of which contained native abnormalities. Each image was seen with and wit hout a simulated nodule. Results. The decrease in the rate of true-pos itive findings in the detection of native abnormalities on images that contained simulated nodules confirmed the occurrence of a satisfactio n of search effect. Gaze times on native abnormalities (up to the time of report of the abnormalities) were the same for images with nodules in which native abnormalities were missed (gaze time, 9.4 seconds) as they were for images without nodules in which native abnormalities we re detected (gaze time, 9.5 seconds). Gaze time on missed native abnor malities was not affected by the presence (7.80 seconds) or absence (7 .45 seconds) of nodules. Conclusion. Reduction in gaze dwell time on t he missed abnormalities is not the cause of satisfaction of search err ors in chest radiographs.