ABSTRACT
For the past 15 years the authors have run a national scheme (PERFORMS – personal performance in mammographic screening) which gathers data concerning how breast screening radiologists interpret sets of difficult screening cases. PERFORMS is a nationwide self-assessment scheme that over 400 medical specialists in the UK NHS Breast Screening Programme complete on a bi-annual basis. Initially the scheme functioned using a paper-based method where each participant was sent a booklet to complete, together with the series of X-ray mammogram cases to examine. In addition to a summary statistics participants where afforded the option to review, in detail, any number of X-ray cases. The latest approach is to utilise a tablet PC with pen-based GUI input. Evolution of the methods has made it possible to contend with a medical environment with ever restricted time schedules. A system which is far more responsive (faster) and requires less training also enables the scheme to cope with a larger influx of new participants.
