The production of good quality radiographs is a complex process, given the high level of image quality required (Sniureviciute & Adliene, 2005: 260). Exposure of patients to x-rays, a factor in the production of quality radiographs also entails a risk of radiation injury. In 2006, computerized radiography (CR) was introduced at The Nairobi Hospital to try and reduce the film reject rate, decrease repeats, reduce financial costs of consumables like x-ray films and processing chemicals. However, to date, no formal film reject analysis has been conducted at The Nairobi Hospital. Four years after the incorporation of CR, there is apparently, still a significant number of film rejects, implying operational costs may still be high. The cause of film rejects and overall reject cost is not known. This has led to the research question: “Has the film reject rate in the A & E x-ray unit at The Nairobi Hospital reduced following incorporation of CR?” A quantitative, retrospective, descriptive study involving a reject film analysis of rejected radiographs in the Accident and Emergency (A&E) x-ray unit in the Nairobi Hospital, Kenya was conducted. The researcher collected data for a period of 6 months between 2/12/07 and 28/05/08 using a purpose-designed data collection form. All rejected x-ray films during the study period were included. Capture and analysis of the collected data was completed by the researcher using SPSS 10 and EPINFO computer packages. Permission to conduct the study was obtained from The Nairobi Hospital Education Committee and due consideration to patient and radiographer confidentiality was maintained throughout the study. A total of 851(2.5 percent) x-ray films were collected during the study period. Four hundred and fourteen (2.6 percent) radiographs and 437 (2.5 percent) radiographs were rejected prior to and after the incorporation of CR respectively. Chest radiographs were the most frequently rejected accounting for 277(66.9 percent) and 123 (28.1 percent) prior to and after the incorporation of CR respectively. The most frequently rejected film size was 35x35cm prior to the incorporation of CR (61.6 percent) and 26x35cm film size after the incorporation of CR (91.3 percent). The most frequent cause of film rejects was radiographer causes both prior to and after the incorporation of CR accounting for 496 (58.3 percent). The film reject rate did not significantly reduce after the incorporation of CR, suggesting that there are other factors which contribute to reject rate, other than CR. The study also shows that higher film consumption does not necessarily lead to high reject rates. The percentage value on annual rejects did not change after the incorporation of CR and a demonstrated increase in the annual cost of purchasing x-ray films was attributed to an increase in annual consumption after the incorporation of CR, and also to the higher cost of digital x-ray films. Despite some identified limitations to this study, some recommendations, which included conduction of regular reject analyses and regular continuing professional development with respect to radiographic technique amongst others, were suggested.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:nmmu/vital:10075 |
| Date | January 2011 |
| Creators | Batuka, Nabawesi Jennifer |
| Publisher | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Faculty of Health Sciences |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis, Masters, MA |
| Format | iii, 97 leaves, pdf |
| Rights | Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University |
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