Introduction

There are several diseases that have a high impact in public health, which are diagnosed with the help of chest x-rays for its low cost and important diagnostic value. Recent studies show that the ability to identify radiological signs in chest x-ray is poor in medicine students.

Objective

To evaluate the ability to identify clinical signs in chest x-rays in pregrade students

Method

A prospective, transversal, descriptive and ob servational study was carried out. The ability to identify radiological signs was evaluated in a representative sample of the medicine students belonging to Clinical Sciences, conformed by 34 participants. An instrument was built and validated in order to evaluate the students.

Results

Fifty percent (17students) showed an insufficient ability to identify radiological signs in chest x-rays. The less identified radiological signs were roentgenolucent increase 5.8%, air bronchogram 23.5% and costophrenic angle effacement 38.3%. The radiological findings that were identified the most were teardrop shaped heart 94.1%, cavitation 91.1% and alveolar infiltrate 82.3%.

Conclusions

At least, half of the student's sample did not have the ability to identify radiological signs in chest x-ray. There were many factors that explain this results, such as the lack of student practice for the ability's development and the absence of student's mentor in the clinical practice.