Radiology request form: Evaluating its complete filling in South-South, Nigeria

Robinson, Ebbi Donald; Ijeruh, Olukumni Yetunde; Wonodi, Woroma; Abam, Rufus; Wekhe, Chidinma

doi:10.4103/jrmt.jrmt_36_20

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…CT-scans were requested to analyse major parts of the body, including: head [65.4% (public) vs 56.3% (private)]; chest [11.7% (public) vs 21.7% (private)]; and abdomen [14.5% (public) vs 9.2% (private)]. These results further enhance observations reported by studies from Zambia and Saudi Arabia[6,15].The partial completion of the referring physician information had been consistently reported in several studies[7, 16,17]. However, available studies require caution in interpretation because they do not estimate the risk of incomplete documentation of referring physician information.…”

supporting

confidence: 81%

Prevalence of inadequate completion of computed tomography request forms submitted to public and private medical imaging centres in Ashanti Region of Ghana: a retrospective audit

Donkor

Wiafe

Adjei

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Introduction : Medical imaging facilities provide an important healthcare service under which physicians can make diagnosis and administer care and treatment to patients. However, computed tomography (CT) scan request forms submitted to medical imaging facilities are usually inadequately completed. The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence of inadequately documented CT-scan request forms submitted to public and private medical imaging centres in Ghana. Methods A retrospective audit of CT-scan request forms was conducted. The study was conducted in two medical imaging facilities (public and private) in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, Ghana. The CT-scan request forms submitted between 1st January to 30th December 2021 were reviewed. Data was collected using an extraction form designed based on the literature. The data extraction form collected the following variables: patient demographics; clinical information; referring physician information; and procedure information. Descriptive analyses were undertaken. Log-linear regression model was used to calculate rate ratio and 95% confidence interval for prevalence of completeness across the CT-scan request forms. Results A total of 480 CT-scan request forms were reviewed (240 from each medical imaging centre). More than half (n = 121, 50.4%) of the patients in the public and 62.5% (n = 150) in the private medical imaging centre were males. The mean age of patients was 49.5 ± 19.6 year. The overall prevalence of inadequately completing CT-scan request forms was 0.752% (95% CI: 0.719–0.787; p < 0.001). Reasons for referral were documented on 391 (81.5%) of the CT-scan request forms, which was highest in the private medical imaging centre (n = 232, 96.7%). Conclusion The prevalence of inadequately completing patient demographic, clinical and physician information on CT-scan request forms is alarming. Efforts to eliminating barriers to inadequately completing CT-scan request forms will require deliberate organisational system strengthening.

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supporting

confidence: 81%

Prevalence of inadequate completion of computed tomography request forms submitted to public and private medical imaging centres in Ashanti Region of Ghana: a retrospective audit

Donkor

Wiafe

Adjei

et al. 2022

Preprint

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“…On account of observed incomplete and incorrectly filled-in RRFs, the department decided to audit the adequacy https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v35i2.7 of completion of general RRFs. In addition, the audit was supported by available literature that confirms that incomplete and incorrect filled-in RRFs negatively impacted the quality of medical imaging services 2,4,19,24 .…”

Section: Identification Of the Problem And Aim Of The Auditmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…A study by Zafar et al 21 though with a focus on RRFs for CT, found comparable results, where 72.34 % of RRFs in their study were also devoid of complete information relating to the patient identification. Robinson et al 24 and Whitley et al 3 emphasise the need for clinicians to provide adequate information, such as the patient's name. Besides, details such as gender and age are essential to the strengthening of the patient's identity 24 .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Robinson et al 24 and Whitley et al 3 emphasise the need for clinicians to provide adequate information, such as the patient's name. Besides, details such as gender and age are essential to the strengthening of the patient's identity 24 . This demographic information also helps the radiologist or reporting radiographer in image interpretation and reporting because some diseases are aligned to gender and age group.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The set standard of achieving all (100%) the RRF information completed or filled-in was based on the Roya College of Radiologists 4 guidelines and literature 2 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 24 .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adequacy of completion of radiology request forms at St. Francis’ Hospital of Katete District: A clinical audit in Zambia

Bwalya,

Bwanga,

Mvula

et al. 2023

Mal. Med. J

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BackgroundMost imaging examinations use ionising radiation which causes biological effects on the body. For this reason, only justified examinations should be requested by adequately completing the radiology request form (RRF) by clinicians. The RRF allows radiographers and radiologists to assess if the benefit outweighs the risk associated with medical radiation exposure. Inadequately or incorrectly filled RRFs leads to unnecessary radiation exposures, imaging errors, and delays in performing the examination. Therefore, this study aimed at auditing the adequacy of completion of general RRFs at St. Francis’ Hospital of Katete District in Zambia.MethodsThis was a quantitative study in which RRFs for general radiography from January to December 2020 were audited. Data were collected retrospectively using a checklist from a total of 974 RRFs. The filled-in forms were assessed for completeness of information related to the patient, examination, and referring clinician. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The standard of completeness was based on the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) guidelines requiring all the designated variables completed on the RRF.ResultsMost N=881(90.5%), RRFs were incompletely filled. With regards to patient’s identification, the findings revealed N=4(0.5%), N=597(61.3%), N=3(0.4%), and N=2(0.3%) RRFs devoid of patient’s name, hospital number, age, and gender, respectively. Regarding the examination, the findings revealed N=3(0.4%), N=68(7%), N=449(46.2%), and N=336 (37%) RRFs devoid of requested examination, indication, clinical history, and level of urgency, respectively. Regarding the referrer, the findings revealed N=135(13.9%), N=173(17.8 %), N=472(48.5%), and N=31(3.2%) RRFs were devoid of information relating to the ward, clinicians’ name, referring department, and signature, respectively.Conclusion This audit reports that most of the RRFs were incompletely filled-in at St. Francis’ Hospital. Furthermore, the hospital number, clinical history and level of urgency were the frequently unfilled variables. Overall, there were gaps in completion of RRFs requiring remedying.

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Assessing, Advising, and Advancing the Filling Practices of the Radiology Request Form in Africa: A Systematic Review

Hajalamin,

Awadalla,

Mukhtar

2024

Diagnostics

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Despite the increased use of diagnostic imaging in Africa, the completion of the Radiology Request Form (RRF) remains suboptimal, often relying on paper-based communication. To examine the practices surrounding RRF completion in the African continent, on 25 March 2024, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles describing the practice in African settings. Non-African studies, studies involving non-human subjects, and articles examining the practice of the RRF for interventional usage were excluded. Our search involves PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online. The included studies were 3004, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria. These studies span eight countries and highlighted several shortcomings, including the usage of informal forms, unconventional abbreviations, illegibility, inaccuracy, and the lack of important fields from institutional forms, commonly the last menstrual period and the referrer’s contact details. We also found widespread non-compliance in all RRF fields; half of the studies did not have an adequately filled form. Incomplete RRFs lead to delayed imaging, increased workloads for radiographers and radiologists, and potential misdiagnoses due to insufficient information. It will also impede the application of radiation protection principles. To address these challenges, empowering radiographers and radiologists and encouraging best practices is essential. Regular audits and educational initiatives aimed at clinicians are recommended. While transitioning to a paperless communication system might help, implementing nationwide quality improvement projects to standardise radiology request forms is currently more feasible.

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Radiology request form: Evaluating its complete filling in South-South, Nigeria

Cited by 4 publications

References 6 publications

Prevalence of inadequate completion of computed tomography request forms submitted to public and private medical imaging centres in Ashanti Region of Ghana: a retrospective audit

Prevalence of inadequate completion of computed tomography request forms submitted to public and private medical imaging centres in Ashanti Region of Ghana: a retrospective audit

Adequacy of completion of radiology request forms at St. Francis’ Hospital of Katete District: A clinical audit in Zambia

Assessing, Advising, and Advancing the Filling Practices of the Radiology Request Form in Africa: A Systematic Review

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