Picture archiving and communication system: prospective study.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the use of a picture archiving and communication system and user satisfaction in order to further improve its quality. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Medical college hospital, Japan. MATERIALS AND METHODS An automated computerised method was used to collect the data from March 1999 to February 2000. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Each workstation automatically recorded data on the rank of the user, purpose of use, use of postprocessing tools, and user satisfaction. RESULTS The number of resident users in the radiology reading room increased and those outside the reading room decreased, but the number of staff users changed little. The purpose of use and the use of postprocessing functions in the reading room were not significantly different from those outside it (P=0.179 and P=0.269, respectively). The average numbers of images accessed to per workstation monthly in the reading room, the general practice ward, and the gastroenterology ward were 1081, 970 and 741, respectively. Only 12 images in the orthopaedic surgery out-patient clinic and 70 images in the orthopaedic surgery ward, however, were accessed per month. The percentages of satisfied users decreased both inside and outside the reading room. The degree of satisfaction of users in the reading room was significantly different from that outside it (P=0.004). The most common reason for dissatisfaction was the length of time necessary to retrieve images. CONCLUSIONS It is necessary to shorten response times of picture archiving and communication system workstations. Repeated data collection and evaluation, however, are also important.