Transition to computed radiography: can emergency medicine doctors accurately predict the need of film printing to facilitate optimal patient care?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate emergency medicine doctors' accuracy in predicting the need of film printing in a simulated setting of computed radiography and assess whether this can facilitate optimal patient care.
METHODS: Cross sectional study was conducted from 20 March 2009 to 3 April 2009 in 1334 patients. After clinical assessment of those patients who needed X-ray examination, doctors in the emergency department would indicate whether film printing was necessary for subsequent patient care in a simulated computed radiography setting. The final discharge plan was then retrieved from each patient record. Accuracy of doctors' prediction was calculated by comparing the initial request for radiographic film printing and the final need of film. Doctors with different level of emergency medicine experience would also be analyzed and compared.
RESULTS: The sensitivity of predicting film printing was 84.5% and the specificity of predicting no film printing was 91.2%. Positive predictive value was 88.4% while negative predictive value was 88.2%. The overall accuracy was 88.2%. The accuracy of doctors stratified into groups of fellows, higher trainees and basic trainees were 85.4%, 90.5% and 88.5% respectively (P=0.073).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that doctors can reliably predict whether film printing is needed after clinical assessment of patients, before actual image viewing. Advanced indication for film printing at the time of imaging request for selected patients can save time for all parties with minimal wastage.