Content area
Resumo
The objective of this correlational study was to determine if there was congruity among the Directors (members) of the Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs in Nuclear Medicine Technology (JRCNMT) when they reviewed the same self-study. A self-study report from an institution requesting new or continued accreditation is required by the JRCNMT before a site-visit is arranged. This self-study, written to satisfy the standards as delineated in the "Essentials and Guidelines of an Accredited Educational Program for the Nuclear Medicine Technologist," (Essentials), is first examined by two of the twelve JRCNMT Directors. The analysis determines any areas requiring more information, along with instructions for the site-visitors. In this research project two self-studies, based on actual institution self-studies, were reviewed by the twelve current Directors of the JRCNMT. The review consisted of using a check-off list with the seven areas of the Essentials subdivided into descriptors. The sum of each of the seven areas as rated by the Director reviewers were compared to one another for consistency. There was no significant interrater reliability (p $>$.05) among the Director reviewers on one self-study, while review of the second self-study demonstrated statistical significance (r =.68, p $<$.02). There were no significant correlations between any demographic data and the Director reviews on one self-study; but on the other self-study, there were significant correlations between the Director reviews and the number of years of their active service to the professional organization (r =.74, p $<$.01), and number of years they were practicing nuclear medicine or nuclear medicine technology (r =.69, p $<$.02). There is preliminary evidence that the degree of compliance with the Essentials determines consistency of review, and the (1) number of years of active service to the professional organization, and (2) number of years practicing nuclear medicine or nuclear medicine technology correlates with the reviews of self-studies in compliance with the Essentials.
