Ageist Attitudes Among Radiologic Science Professionals.

Purpose: To measure radiologic science professionals' current attitudes toward older adults.

Methods: The Geriatrics Attitude Scale (GAS) paper survey was distributed to radiology and radiation oncology personnel in a large, single teaching hospital system. The GAS provides a global measure of ageist attitudes using 14 questions and 4 subscales.

Factors Associated With Imaging of Nontraumatic Headaches in Virginia Emergency Departments.

Purpose: To explore whether patient-reported demographics and hospital classifications were significant factors in the likelihood that a computed tomography (CT) scan of the head would be ordered for nontraumatic headaches.

Methods: Nonexperimental, cross-sectional analysis was performed on a database that included 18 279 patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Information included in the analysis was diagnosis of a generalized, nontraumatic headache; patient age and sex; the treating hospital's profit status (ie, for-profit vs nonprofit); status of the hospital as a teaching institution; hospital location (ie, rural vs suburban and urban); diagnostic procedures ordered; and patient's insurance coverage (commercial insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid).

Process Factors Affecting Reperfusion Time in Patients With ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: To determine process factors impacting myocardial infarction reperfusion time.

Background: An ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a life-threatening condition that necessitates emergent medical treatment; longer reperfusion times are associated with negative patient outcomes. Therefore, time is critical in the treatment of a STEMI.

X-ray field size and patient dosimetry.

Purpose: Limiting the size of the x-ray field during radiography is an important radiation safety practice and the sole responsibility of the radiologic technologist. Collimation reduces the volume of tissue irradiated and therefore reduces patient exposure and improves image quality. The purpose of the research experiment was to investigate the effect of decreasing the x-ray field size on patient dosimetry during lumbar spine imaging.

Patient safety perceptions among vascular interventional technologists.

Objective: To describe perceptions of patient safety culture (PSC) among US vascular interventional technologists (VIR).

Methods: A letter to complete The Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture online was distributed in the US to all full-time American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT)-registered technologists with a primary discipline of cardiac-interventional or vascular interventional (n=3,184). Mean scores on each PSC dimension and overall outcome measures were calculated.

Safety considerations for IMRT: executive summary.

This report on intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is part of a series of white papers addressing patient safety commissioned by the American Society for Radiation Oncology's (ASTRO) Target Safely Campaign. The document has been approved by the ASTRO Board of Directors, endorsed by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) and American Association of Medical Dosimetrists (AAMD), and reviewed and accepted by the American College of Radiology's Commission on Radiation Oncology. This report is related to other reports of the ASTRO white paper series on patient safety which are still in preparation, and when appropriate it defers to guidance that will be published by those groups in future white papers.

High kilovoltage digital exposure techniques and patient dosimetry.

Purpose: To explore digital exposure techniques during pelvic imaging on patient dosimetry, exposure indicator (EXI) values and image quality.

Methods: An experimental design was used to study the effect of varying kilovoltage peak (kVp) and milliampere-seconds (mAs) on a male phantom pelvis when using a direct digital radiography (DR) flat panel detector. The radiation intensity was varied by increasing the kVp and reducing mAs.