Economic evaluation of computed radiography comparing to film method in quality control of general X-ray machine at Phramongkutklao Hospital.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficiency of quality control performance for a general x-ray machine between computed radiography (CR) and film method. MATERIAL AND METHOD CR performance as a quality control method for a general x-ray machine was compared to the film method. Two raters independently analyzed the result of quality control from both methods. Economic evaluation was performed by cost-minimization analysis. All data (result for quality control and cost) were collected from Phramongkutklao Hospital from August 2007 to January 2008. RESULT Quality control performances of a general x-ray machine by using CR and film method were equivalent. Interobserver agreement for analysis of quality control measurements was almost perfect. Unit cost, test performance time, radiation dose for quality control by CR were less than the film method (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The performances of quality control of a general x-ray machine done by the CR method are more efficient than the film method. Using the CR method for quality control performance of the general x-ray machines will save cost enormously.