The appropriateness of abdominal X-ray requests in the acute medical initial admissions unit.

Br J Hosp Med (Lond)

Department of Acute Medicine, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, NHS Grampian, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, UK.

Published: May 2022

Background/aims: Abdominal X-rays are frequently requested by clinicians in the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary acute medical initial assessment unit.

Method: The proportion of indicated abdominal X-rays requested within 24 hours of admission was retrospectively examined. This process was repeated after displaying an educational poster with the Royal College of Radiologists guidelines (cycle 2) and a graded assertive communication poster (cycles 3 and 4); a tool to enable junior doctors to challenge inappropriate requests for abdominal X-rays from seniors.

Results: Only 47.2% of abdominal X-ray requests were deemed appropriate in cycle 1. A 1.54% reduction in abdominal X-ray requests and an 11.5% increase in indicated abdominal X-rays were noted after cycle 2. Cycle 3 led to a statistically significant improvement with 2.6% fewer patients undergoing an abdominal X-ray and a 24.6% increase in indicated abdominal X-rays. This improvement was sustained in cycle 4.

Conclusions: Promoting graded assertive communication is an effective means of helping junior doctors to challenge seniors requesting non-indicated abdominal X-rays.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.12968/hmed.2021.0603DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

abdominal x-rays
24
abdominal x-ray
16
x-ray requests
12
indicated abdominal
12
abdominal
9
acute medical
8
medical initial
8
graded assertive
8
assertive communication
8
junior doctors
8

Similar Publications

In abdominal X-ray examinations, radiosensitive organs such as the gonads within or near the imaging region are at risk of radiation exposure. Minimizing the dose to these organs is crucial to reducing unnecessary radiation. This study utilized optically stimulated luminescence dosimeters (OSLDs) to measure the radiation dose to the male gonads at varying kilovoltage peak (kVp) settings while keeping the milliampere-seconds (mAs) constant across different radiographic projections.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A Veteran Presenting With Fatigue and Weakness.

Fed Pract

October 2024

Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

: A 65-year-old male veteran presented to the Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System (VABHS) emergency department with progressive fatigue, dyspnea on exertion, lightheadedness, and falls over the last month. New bilateral lower extremity numbness up to his knees developed in the week prior to admission and prompted him to seek care. Additional history included 2 episodes of transient loss of consciousness resulting in falls and a week of diarrhea, which had resolved.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Outlet type constipation in adult patients treated with type A botulinum toxin: a cohort study.

Int J Colorectal Dis

January 2025

Department of Surgery, Azienda Sanitaria Provinciale Crotone, 88900, Crotone, Italy.

Purpose: Chronic constipation is a common symptom. Constipation due to pelvic floor disorders remain a therapeutic challenge. Biofeedback therapy is considered as the first-choice treatment for pelvic floor disorders, whenever dedicated expertise is available.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography training using a silicone simulator fabricated using a 3D printing technique (with videos).

Sci Rep

January 2025

Digestive Disease Center, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, CHA University, 59 Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam, 13496, Korea.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) training remains challenging. This study used 3D printing techniques to develop and optimize a portable ERCP training simulator and to implement basic and advanced practical techniques. Subsequently, we aimed to determine whether endoscopy trainees acquired proficiency in ERCP techniques and assess any improvements in their skill levels from using this model.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Adverse events after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) are rare, and post-ERCP pancreatitis is a serious adverse event. This study aimed to determine the role of aggressive intravenous hydration with lactated Ringer's solution at a specific volume with 20% human albumin before ERCP in reducing the incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Methods: This study was a single-centre randomized clinical trial.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!