Radiological Sciences Department, King Saud University, Office 60, Building 11, Female Campus, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Scientists Unit, Central Research Laboratory, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11495, Saudi Arabia.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Oct 31;24(1):1327. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-11706-5.
Due to the recent evolution of telecommunications, it is now acknowledged that digital communication provides essential services for remote areas. Teleradiology allows the ability to obtain images at one site, send them over a distance, and view them remotely for diagnostic or consultation purposes.
The highlighted objectives include (a) the added value of the service, (b) user satisfaction, and (c) quality assurance according to global best practices and national quality standards.
This study utilised an eight-part online self-report survey distributed among employees of the Ministry of Health (MOH) who use the national teleradiology platform. The survey sections were designed to gather comprehensive data, including participant demographics, levels of satisfaction with the service, awareness of security measures, communication effectiveness, perceived advantages and disadvantages, quality assurance, technical challenges, IT support, and future perceptions of teleradiology services. Additionally, a total of 212 MRI reports from patients who underwent brain and spine MRI examinations between 2018 and 2020 were collected from the platform to strengthen the analysis.
Most survey respondents (78%) were males, with a significant majority (96.2%) affirming that teleradiology sufficiently addresses clinical inquiries. Furthermore, 90% expressed satisfaction with the service, and 93% endorsed the standardization of MR imaging procedures across Ministry of Health (MOH) hospitals. Notably, 92.4% recognised teleradiology as a transformative strategy for healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia, concurring with its benefits. The analysis of the MRI reports revealed structural inconsistencies; compared with structured templates, the average number of incorporated elements was reduced, and essential elements were frequently absent. Intriguingly, reports delineating normal cases included a higher incidence of clinical impressions relative to those describing abnormalities, yet the latter contained a more comprehensive array of elements. Variability in report composition was correlated with the years of experience of the reporters. Teleradiology users perceived enhancements in the quality of radiological reporting and the daily operational workflow. Nonetheless, certain limitations were identified, necessitating focused improvements by service providers.
Despite teleradiology being a subspecialisation, it can reduce the role of local radiologists. Further research is needed on data security, confidentiality, and archiving options, as well as the cost-effectiveness of teleradiology services.
由于电信技术的最新发展，现在人们认识到数字通信为偏远地区提供了重要的服务。远程放射学使得在一个地点获取图像、通过远程传输并进行诊断或咨询成为可能。
突出的目标包括 (a) 服务的附加值，(b) 用户满意度，以及 (c) 根据全球最佳实践和国家质量标准的质量保证。
本研究使用了一份在线自我报告调查，该调查共分为八部分，分发给使用国家远程放射学平台的卫生部 (MOH) 员工。调查部分旨在收集全面的数据，包括参与者的人口统计学特征、对服务的满意度水平、对安全措施的认识、沟通效果、感知到的优缺点、质量保证、技术挑战、IT 支持以及对远程放射学服务的未来看法。此外，还从平台上收集了 2018 年至 2020 年间进行脑部和脊柱 MRI 检查的 212 份患者 MRI 报告，以加强分析。
大多数调查受访者（78%）为男性，绝大多数（96.2%）表示远程放射学足以满足临床询问。此外，90%的人对该服务表示满意，93%的人支持卫生部（MOH）医院的磁共振成像（MRI）成像程序标准化。值得注意的是，92.4%的人认为远程放射学是沙特阿拉伯医疗机构的变革性战略，他们认同其益处。对 MRI 报告的分析显示出结构上的不一致性；与结构化模板相比，包含的元素数量减少，并且经常缺少基本元素。有趣的是，描述正常病例的报告包含更多的临床印象，而描述异常病例的报告则包含更全面的元素。报告组成的变异性与报告人的工作经验年限相关。远程放射学用户认为放射学报告质量和日常运营工作流程得到了提高。然而，也发现了一些局限性，需要服务提供商集中改进。
尽管远程放射学是一个专业领域，但它可以减少当地放射科医生的作用。需要进一步研究数据安全性、保密性和存档选项，以及远程放射学服务的成本效益。
