Viewing boxes: a survey in diagnostic radiology departments of Moroccan hospitals.

This work consists on a survey of the performance of viewing boxes installed in diagnostic radiology departments and included several aspects: checking the illuminance of the diagnostic rooms where the viewing boxes are located as well as the viewing boxes luminance levels and homogeneity. Seven hospitals took part in the survey, being three in the city of Casablanca and four in Rabat. A total of 136 viewing boxes and 18 diagnostic rooms have been checked. It was found that one diagnostic room works under normal conditions and that 80% of the viewing boxes present luminance levels below the international recommendations and the homogeneity is inadequate in 85%. Some simple and cheap initiatives can be performed in these departments to increase luminance and improve homogeneity levels such as cleaning and bulbs replacement.