H Precht1, D L Hansen2, B M Ring-Pedersen3, L F Møller Hansen3, D Waaler4, A Tingberg5, M Midtgaard6, M G Jensen Ohlsen6, S T Juhl Hankelbjerg6, P Ravn6, I E Jensen6, J K Christensen6, P A Blackburn Andersen6. 1. Conrad Research Program, Health Sciences Research Centre, UCL University College, Niels Bohrs Allé 1, 5230, Odense M, Denmark; Medical Research Department, Odense University Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern, Denmark. Electronic address: hepr@ucl.dk. 2. Department of Haematology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark. 3. Conrad Research Program, Health Sciences Research Centre, UCL University College, Niels Bohrs Allé 1, 5230, Odense M, Denmark; Department of Radiology, Hospital Little Belt Kolding, Denmark. 4. Department of Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gjøvik, Norway. 5. Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Radiation Physics, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital Malmö, Malmö, Sweden. 6. Department of Radiology, Hospital Little Belt Kolding, Denmark.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A hospital environment can be a significant burden and a health risk especially for dementia patients. Mobile x-ray equipment (ME) is used to enable imaging of these patients at home. The aim was to compare image quality (IQ) of chest, hip and pelvis images from ME to the stationary equipment (SE) used in a hospital department. METHODS: We analysed examinations of the chest (n = 20), hip (n = 64) and pelvis (n = 32). Images were equally obtained from each setting of ME and SE. All images were graded using Visual Grading Analysis (VGA) by three radiographers (hip and pelvis) and three radiologists (chest). Technical IQ assessment was done by 80 additional images of a Contrast-Detail Radiography phantom (CDRAD). RESULTS: All chest images were approved for diagnostic use, as well as the hip AP and pelvis images from SE. 'Approved proportion of ME images was for HIP antero-posterior (AP) and pelvis, 78% [95% CI: 52-94%] and 81% [95% CI: 54-96%] respectively. Hip axial had an overall low, but not significant different approval rate. Ordered logistic regression indicated higher IQ of HIP AP and pelvic images from SE. This contrasts that the CDRAD substudy indicated better IQ, expressed as IQFinv, from ME. CONCLUSION: The VGA showed higher IQ for the SE system, while the CDRAD showed higher IQ for the ME system. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Dementia patients can be examined at their home if the acquisition is optimised according to image quality in conjunct to radiation dose. Performing imaging out of the hospital and coordinating the patients' further treatment are new work areas for radiographers and requires excellent communication skills.
INTRODUCTION: A hospital environment can be a significant burden and a health risk especially for dementiapatients. Mobile x-ray equipment (ME) is used to enable imaging of these patients at home. The aim was to compare image quality (IQ) of chest, hip and pelvis images from ME to the stationary equipment (SE) used in a hospital department. METHODS: We analysed examinations of the chest (n = 20), hip (n = 64) and pelvis (n = 32). Images were equally obtained from each setting of ME and SE. All images were graded using Visual Grading Analysis (VGA) by three radiographers (hip and pelvis) and three radiologists (chest). Technical IQ assessment was done by 80 additional images of a Contrast-Detail Radiography phantom (CDRAD). RESULTS: All chest images were approved for diagnostic use, as well as the hip AP and pelvis images from SE. 'Approved proportion of ME images was for HIP antero-posterior (AP) and pelvis, 78% [95% CI: 52-94%] and 81% [95% CI: 54-96%] respectively. Hip axial had an overall low, but not significant different approval rate. Ordered logistic regression indicated higher IQ of HIP AP and pelvic images from SE. This contrasts that the CDRAD substudy indicated better IQ, expressed as IQFinv, from ME. CONCLUSION: The VGA showed higher IQ for the SE system, while the CDRAD showed higher IQ for the ME system. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Dementiapatients can be examined at their home if the acquisition is optimised according to image quality in conjunct to radiation dose. Performing imaging out of the hospital and coordinating the patients' further treatment are new work areas for radiographers and requires excellent communication skills.