Level of Adherence of X-ray Departments to European Guidelines in Governmental Hospitals of Mazandaran and Related Factors, 2012

Background and The Commission of European Communities (CEC) has developed a guideline in which many common radiographic techniques are determined. Following these guidelines will reduce patient dose and good quality image is obtained. Noncompliance of radiographic centers with standard guidelines not only leads to reduction in radiographic image quality but also wastes resources and increases the rate of radiographic repeat and the risk of radiation damage. In this research X-ray departments’ adherence to European guidelines was assessed. In this descriptive study nine hospitals of Mazandaran province with high reception were studied. Adoption of technical data on adult patients in radiographs of lung (PA)، abdomen (AP)، pelvis (AP)، and lumbar spine (AP and lateral) was assessed. The technical information including name of hospital، number of radiographic room، type of test (chest، abdomen، etc.)، exposure condition (kVp)، the x-ray tube to the patient distance (FFD)، the use or non-use of automatic exposure control (AEC) were recorded. The equipment information including type of film- screen and grid ratio were also recorded. The data was then compared with the standards introduced by CEC. None of the hospitals followed the AEC system. The grid ratio used in radiographic table in all hospitals did not correspond to the recommended value. This study shows that all hospitals follow the FFD recommended by the CEC in the radiographs of the abdomen، pelvis، and lumbar (AP and Lat.). In radiographs of the lungs only one hospital did not follow the FFD selection of the CEC. In this study the highest rate of compliance with the CEC standard was observed in film-screen selection and the least rate of adherence was found in AEC system، grid ratio and selection of kVp in chest radiographs. The studied X-ray departments’ adherence to European guidelines was 43%.