Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/1531
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dc.contributor.authorRawle, Marnieen_US
dc.contributor.authorPighills, Alisonen_US
dc.date.accessioned2021-09-01T03:11:33Z-
dc.date.available2021-09-01T03:11:33Z-
dc.date.issued2018-09-
dc.identifier.citationRawle, M., & Pighills, A. (2018). Prevalence of unjustified emergency department x-ray examination referrals performed in a regional Queensland hospital: A pilot study. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 65(3), 184–191. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmrs.287en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://dora.health.qld.gov.au/qldresearchjspui/handle/1/1531-
dc.description.abstractThe underpinning principles of radiation protection are justification, optimisation and limitation. Each medical imaging referral that uses ionising radiation must balance the justification of exposure to radiation against the benefits of the examination. Scrutiny of justification is the role of radiographers, for general radiography, and is usually performed using the clinical details provided on the referral. International studies report up to 77% of medical imaging examinations are unjustified or inappropriate. In regional Queensland, justification seems to involve a subjective assessment and enforcement is ad hoc. This study aimed to determine the number of unjustified emergency department x-ray examinations performed in a regional Queensland hospital. An audit of the clinical details provided on x-ray referrals and in the medical records was performed on x-ray examinations undertaken within an 11-day period. Justification was determined by compliance with the Government of Western Australia's diagnostic imaging pathways. Of the 186 referrals assessed, 75.3% were categorised as not having complied with the imaging pathway and were considered unjustified. When the clinical details in the patient's medical record were reviewed, in conjunction with the referral, the unjustified rate reduced to 49.2% of examinations. Results demonstrate a lack of information transfer by referring clinicians and a lack of compliance with justification requirements for imaging by medical imaging staff. Improved communication regarding the need for imaging, and the refusal of referrals that are not justified, will ensure that patients are only exposed to radiation when clear benefit has been demonstrated.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherWiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltden_US
dc.relation.ispartofJournal of medical radiation sciencesen_US
dc.subjectEmergency Service, Hospital/*statistics & numerical dataen_US
dc.subjectRadiography/*statistics & numerical dataen_US
dc.subjectReferral and Consultation/*standardsen_US
dc.subjectReferral and Consultation/statistics & numerical dataen_US
dc.subjectUtilization Reviewen_US
dc.titlePrevalence of unjustified emergency department x-ray examination referrals performed in a regional Queensland hospital: A pilot studyen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/jmrs.287-
item.fulltextWith Fulltext-
item.openairecristypehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_18cf-
item.grantfulltextopen-
item.languageiso639-1en-
item.openairetypeArticle-
item.cerifentitytypePublications-
Appears in Sites:Mackay HHS Publications
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