Nigatu Araya Mesfin, Yilma Tesfahun Melese, Gezie Lemma Derseh, Gebrewold Yonathan, Gullslett Monika Knudsen, Mengiste Shegaw Anagaw, Tilahun Binyam
Department of Health Informatics, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.
BMC Health Serv Res. 2025 Apr 25;25(1):603. doi: 10.1186/s12913-025-12545-8.
Limited access to onsite radiologists in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) poses challenges for health facilities in delivering timely radiology services resulting in prolonged patient waiting times and dissatisfaction with the insufficient radiology services. In recent years, teleradiology has emerged as a potential solution to improve the timely diagnosis and treatment process. Therefore, this paper analysed the effect of a web-based teleradiology system that was developed and deployed to evaluate its effect on patient waiting time and service satisfaction in public hospitals of the Amhara Regional State.
A pre-post study design was employed to evaluate the effect of a web-based teleradiology system on patient waiting time and service satisfaction. The study included a total of 836 participants, out of which 417 participated during the pre-intervention and 419 in the post-intervention periods. Data were collected from October 2021 to February 2022 and from May 2022 to January 2023 for the pre-and post-implementation periods, respectively. Supportive measures, including user guides, onsite training, and onsite/virtual assistance, were given during the teleradiology implementation period. The effects of the teleradiology on waiting time and service satisfaction were evaluated with the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Generalized Linear Model. Waiting time was measured as the duration between image consultation and report completion. Furthermore, satisfaction was assessed using a 31-item, 5-point Likert scale. The statistical analysis was done using Stata version 17 software.
After the implementation of the web-based teleradiology system, a significant decrease in the median waiting time was observed from 43.5 h (IQR: 22.88-71.63) to 4.62 h (IQR: 2.52-10.53) (p-value < 0.01). The effect size for this improvement was found to be 0.84. Furthermore, the median patient satisfaction score was significantly improved from 96 (IQR: 89-103) to 113 (IQR: 105-124) (p-value < 0.01) and an effect size of 0.65. Similarly, the percentage of the scale mean score (%SM) showed an increase in patient satisfaction levels from 52.6% (pre-implementation) [95% CI: 51.8-53.5] to 65.7% (post-implementation) [95% CI: 64.5 -66.9%]. The GLM analysis demonstrated a 71% decrease in patient waiting time and an 11% increase in radiography service satisfaction (p-value < 0.01).
Implementing the web-based teleradiology system improved the patient's waiting time and service satisfaction remarkably. The notable reduction in waiting time and the significant improvement in patient satisfaction scores highlighted the benefits of teleradiology in enhancing timely diagnosis and treatment. Deploying a web-based teleradiology system in public hospitals is recommended to enhance efficiency and improve patient satisfaction in radiology consultations.
PACTR202401789144564.
09 January 2024.
低收入和中等收入国家（LMICs）现场放射科医生数量有限，这给医疗机构提供及时的放射科服务带来了挑战，导致患者等待时间延长，且对放射科服务不足感到不满。近年来，远程放射学已成为改善及时诊断和治疗过程的一种潜在解决方案。因此，本文分析了一个基于网络的远程放射学系统的效果，该系统已开发并部署，以评估其对阿姆哈拉州公立医院患者等待时间和服务满意度的影响。
采用前后对照研究设计来评估基于网络的远程放射学系统对患者等待时间和服务满意度的影响。该研究共纳入836名参与者，其中417名在干预前参与，419名在干预后参与。分别在2021年10月至2022年2月以及2022年5月至2023年1月收集实施前后的数据。在远程放射学实施期间，提供了包括用户指南、现场培训和现场/虚拟协助在内的支持措施。使用曼-惠特尼U检验和广义线性模型评估远程放射学对等待时间和服务满意度 的影响。等待时间以图像会诊和报告完成之间的持续时间来衡量。此外，使用31项5点李克特量表评估满意度。使用Stata 17版软件进行统计分析。
基于网络的远程放射学系统实施后，观察到中位等待时间显著减少，从43.5小时（四分位间距：22.88 - 71.63）降至4.62小时（四分位间距：2.52 - 10.53）（p值<0.01）。这一改善的效应大小为0.84。此外，患者满意度中位得分从96（四分位间距：89 - 103）显著提高到113（四分位间距：105 - 124）（p值<0.01），效应大小为0.65。同样，量表平均得分百分比（%SM）显示患者满意度水平从52.6%（实施前）[95%置信区间：51.8 - 53.5]提高到65.7%（实施后）[95%置信区间：64.5 - 66.9%]。广义线性模型分析表明患者等待时间减少了71%，放射学服务满意度提高了11%（p值<0.01）。
实施基于网络的远程放射学系统显著改善了患者的等待时间和服务满意度。等待时间的显著缩短和患者满意度得分的显著提高凸显了远程放射学在加强及时诊断和治疗方面的益处。建议在公立医院部署基于网络的远程放射学系统，以提高效率并改善放射学会诊中的患者满意度。
PACTR202401789144564。
2024年1月9日。
