TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving membranous urethral length measurements on prostate MRI
T2 - a comparison of online training methods
AU - Goedegebuure, Elisabeth P.
AU - Boellaard, Thierry N.
AU - Membranous Urethral Length – Training and Interpretation (MUL-TI READ) collaborative
AU - van Dijk-de Haan, Margriet C.
AU - Heijmink, Stijn W.T.P.J.
AU - Hagens, Marinus J.
AU - Tissier, Renaud
AU - van Griethuysen, Joost J.M.
AU - Khmelinkskii, Artem
AU - Beets-Tan, Regina G.H.
AU - Schoots, Ivo G.
AU - Lambregts, Doenja M.J.
AU - Zerunian, Marta
AU - Withey, Samuel
AU - de Wit, Bart W.K.
AU - van Westerveld, Paul P.
AU - Weimar, Emilie A.M.
AU - de Walle, Steven F.
AU - Voogt, Marianne J.
AU - Vesel, Miha
AU - Verhoeff, Eric
AU - Vennix, Sandra
AU - Vainak, Nicolae
AU - Ursprung, Stephan
AU - Turgut, Ali Çağlar
AU - Tol, Suzanne
AU - Tiidermann, Mariliis
AU - Terra, Carolina
AU - Tapia Proaño, Milton Josué
AU - van Stiphout, Rogier S.A.
AU - Stanzione, Arnaldo
AU - Somers, Inne
AU - Somasundaram, Arjuna
AU - Solak, Evsen Polattas
AU - Smit, Ruth S.
AU - Silva, Miguel C.
AU - Šifer, Katarina Kaja
AU - Shakur, Amreen
AU - Schouten, Lex J.
AU - Salvador Izquierdo, Rafael
AU - Reinhard, Rinze
AU - Ramselaar, Alout
AU - Raat, Hendricus P.J.
AU - Ponsiglione, Andrea
AU - van Oudheusden, Thijs
AU - van Oorschot, Niek
AU - Onit, Radin Darius
AU - Ocantos, Jorge Alberto
AU - Obmann, Verena C.
AU - Noordmans, Jorrit
AU - Bruining, Annemarie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2026.
PY - 2026/8
Y1 - 2026/8
N2 - Objectives: This study compared three online training methods to enhance diagnostic performance, reader confidence, and interreader agreement in membranous urethral length (MUL) measurements. Materials and methods: Ninety-nine study participants were asked to measure the MUL on 20 test cases at the start of the study and rated their confidence level. Participants were then divided semi-randomly into three training groups: Group A (written instructions), Group B (1-month self-study program with case feedback using a dedicated web platform), and Group C (1-day online expert-led case-based training). Groups B and C worked through an identical set of 40 cases. One week after completing training, participants evaluated the same 20 test cases. Diagnostic performance (using expert reference standard), interreader agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and reader confidence levels were compared before and after training. Participants completed a questionnaire evaluating their perceptions of the training. Results: Eighty-one participants (82%) completed the study. All groups demonstrated significant improvements in diagnostic performance and confidence (p < 0.001), with similar outcomes across training groups. Interreader agreement improved from ICC 0.52–0.56 pre-training to 0.74–0.80 post-training. Questionnaire responses indicated most found the training appropriate; however, 17% of Group A felt it was insufficient, while 30–35% of Group C found the expert-led training too time-consuming. Conclusion: All training methods—ranging from minimal, with written instructions only, to more comprehensive case-based programs—effectively improved diagnostic performance, reader confidence and interreader agreement for MUL measurements on prostate MRI. Independent online training offers practical advantages over more time-demanding hands-on sessions, supporting broader clinical implementation of MUL-based individualized continence prediction. Key Points: Question Which method of online training is most effective to train radiologists in measuring the membranous urethral length (MUL) on prostate MRI? Findings 81 radiologists showed significant gains in diagnostic performance, confidence and interreader agreement, with similar results after written instructions, case-based self-study, or hands-on expert-led training. Clinical relevance Enhanced accuracy and interreader consistency achieved through online training can facilitate wider clinical adoption of MUL-based continence prediction, strengthening patient counseling and shared decision making in prostate cancer management.
AB - Objectives: This study compared three online training methods to enhance diagnostic performance, reader confidence, and interreader agreement in membranous urethral length (MUL) measurements. Materials and methods: Ninety-nine study participants were asked to measure the MUL on 20 test cases at the start of the study and rated their confidence level. Participants were then divided semi-randomly into three training groups: Group A (written instructions), Group B (1-month self-study program with case feedback using a dedicated web platform), and Group C (1-day online expert-led case-based training). Groups B and C worked through an identical set of 40 cases. One week after completing training, participants evaluated the same 20 test cases. Diagnostic performance (using expert reference standard), interreader agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC), and reader confidence levels were compared before and after training. Participants completed a questionnaire evaluating their perceptions of the training. Results: Eighty-one participants (82%) completed the study. All groups demonstrated significant improvements in diagnostic performance and confidence (p < 0.001), with similar outcomes across training groups. Interreader agreement improved from ICC 0.52–0.56 pre-training to 0.74–0.80 post-training. Questionnaire responses indicated most found the training appropriate; however, 17% of Group A felt it was insufficient, while 30–35% of Group C found the expert-led training too time-consuming. Conclusion: All training methods—ranging from minimal, with written instructions only, to more comprehensive case-based programs—effectively improved diagnostic performance, reader confidence and interreader agreement for MUL measurements on prostate MRI. Independent online training offers practical advantages over more time-demanding hands-on sessions, supporting broader clinical implementation of MUL-based individualized continence prediction. Key Points: Question Which method of online training is most effective to train radiologists in measuring the membranous urethral length (MUL) on prostate MRI? Findings 81 radiologists showed significant gains in diagnostic performance, confidence and interreader agreement, with similar results after written instructions, case-based self-study, or hands-on expert-led training. Clinical relevance Enhanced accuracy and interreader consistency achieved through online training can facilitate wider clinical adoption of MUL-based continence prediction, strengthening patient counseling and shared decision making in prostate cancer management.
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035336901
U2 - 10.1007/s00330-026-12468-w
DO - 10.1007/s00330-026-12468-w
M3 - Article
C2 - 41915072
AN - SCOPUS:105035336901
SN - 0938-7994
VL - 36
SP - 6419
EP - 6427
JO - European Radiology
JF - European Radiology
IS - 8
ER -
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being