ANALYSIS OF ADEQUACY OF RADIOLOGICAL REQUEST FORM COMPLETION: A MULTICENTER EVALUATION

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background and aim: Radiology request forms (RRFs) are clinical documents that state the patient’s biodata, requisite investigation, justification for the investigation and identities of the referring clinician. The aim of the study is to determine the rate of inadequacy in completing the radiology request forms in order to create awareness on the import of the information on the medical request forms amongst the clinicians.

Methods: This was a descriptive study designed to measure the compliance of the referring clinicians in completing the radiology request forms. Radiology request forms were collected from the radiology department of the three largest public hospitals in our locality over five consecutive years and the rate of completion of each field in the request forms were analysed.

Results: The least completed field in the patients’ biodata are patients’ address, folder number, phone number and last menstrual period(LMP) which are 35%,19%, 10 and 50.6% respectively for hospital A, and 23%, 1%, 2.5% and11.5% for hospital B. Folder number and LMP were not enlisted in hospital C request forms.

Clinical details, date, patients’ name and surname have the highest completion rate in the three hospitals. Of the clinician’s details, the resident/doctor’s phone number is the least completed.

Conclusion: There is general deficiency in adequate and complete filling of the request forms for radiological investigation in all the three major public hospital in our locality. Patient management should be seen as team work and all impediments should be removed to facilitate proper patients’ management.

Key words: Request form, Clinician, Radiology, Surname, Hospital.