بررسی میزان تکرار تصاویر رادیوگرافی و عوامل مرتبط با آن در مراکز درمانی بخش های دولتی شهرستان ساری در سال 1387

Background and purpose: Radiographic film repeat rate assessment is performed to appropriate profiting of existence resources in therapeutic wards. Multiple exposures of x-ray generators due to repeated radiographic examination can lead to amortization of the radiographic facilities and decrease their longevity and also increases the cost of facilities repair. On the other hand, its therapeutic services are necessary to be carried out for patients as soon as possible. Recognition of radiographic film repeat rate and its related causes will help to eliminate the problems and are cost effective. Materials and methods: In this descriptive study, samples were garnered with data collection and non random model during three months in eight radiographic rooms and four darkrooms belonging to four governmental hospitals, namely Imam Khomeini, Booali Sina, Fatemh Zahra and Zare in Sari. All rejected radiographic films were seen by resident experts in each center and information was entered into designed forms. Radiographic repeat rates were calculated through data available from all recipients and the number of used films. In this article, related causes responsible for repeated radiographic examination including errors in selection of exposure factors (over exposure and under exposure), positioning, centering, film size, equipment, processing or darkroom, movement and others were assessed. Results: In four hospitals, 36,758 films were received during investigation and the number of repeated films was 2,155 (5.9 % were estimated as radiographic repeat rate). The maximum repeat rate belonged to Booali sina Hospital (7.2 %) and the minimum one was Zare Hospital (0.7 %). The most important causes were due to over exposure selection (1.4 %) and the least one was due to improper selection of film size (0.08 %). The percentage of other factors include, under exposure selection (1.12%), centering (0.92%), others (0.84 %), darkroom (0.78%), positioning (0.32 %), equipment (0.27 %), and movement (0.14 %). Conclusion: This study indicates that radiographic repeat rate is reasonable for governmental hospitals in Sari, rather than other published data. Booali Sina hospital has more repeat rates caused by movement factor during radiographic examination than other centers. As a matter of fact, Zare hospital has the least radiographic repeat rate. In order to decrease radiographic repeat rate and avoiding extra payment, one should educate the inexperienced staff, perform quality control of x-ray generator sets and processors regularly and also select appropriate diagrams of exposure factors.