To assess image quality of chest radiograms based on quality control charts and to demonstrate the importance of implementing an image quality control system in the imaging departments.

A retrospective study was conducted in a public imaging department using a total of 860 random chest radiograms, divided in 43 samples with 20 exams each. The radiograms were analyzed according to a checklist based in the American College of Radiology guidelines to identify non-conformities in chest radiograms. The conformities and non-conformities found were recorded and used to establish three types of quality control charts in order to suggest corrective actions for improvement: (1) the proportion of conformities and non-conformities (p chart), (2) the total...

For every shift, the proportion of conformities and non-conformities (p chart), the total number of non-conformity exams (np chart) and the total number of non-conformities in each sample (c chart) were determined. For each chart, superior and inferior control limit, standard deviation and limit warningswere calculated. From the 860 examinations, 83% (712) of observed radiograms were classified as non-conform. The highest difference between the proportion of conformity with non-compliant was identified on the night shift and at morning shift where this ratio is below. Analyzing...

Considering that this study was performed in a public hospital with emergency department, the high proportion of non-conformities in the patient positioning group might be explained with non-cooperative patients. The higher proportion of non-conformities by post-processing defects was identified in morning shift, which can be explained by the elevated workflow on this work shift. So, the implementation of a quality control framework will contributes to a significant improvement of the images. The importance of a quality control program is relevant in order to understand if...

Adriana Moura (BSc), Collaborator in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department, Health School - University of Algarve, Portugal. Email: [email protected] Luís Ribeiro (PhD), Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department, Health School - University of Algarve, Portugal. Researcher in CIDAF – University of Coimbra (Centro de Investigação do Desporto e da Atividade Física) and Member of Studies Center in Healthcare (CES-ESSUALG). Email: [email protected] Anabela Ribeiro (MSc), Professor in the Medical Imaging and Radiotherapy Department, Health School - University of Algarve, Portugal. Radiographer in Centro...

American College of Radiology. (2011). ACR-SPR Practice Paremeterfor thePerformance of Chest Radiography. Obtido de American College ofRadiology: http://www.acr.org/~/media/B40302EE286D4120AAEDE44B409DD45E.pdft Cândido, S., Ribeiro, L., Ribeiro, A., Abrantes, A., Pinheiro, J., Almeida, R., &Azevedo, K. (2013). Image Quality Control in Digital Radiology. AmericanJournal of Biomedical Engineering, 8-14. Obtido de Scientific &Academic Publishing: http://article.sapub.org/10.5923.s.ajbe.201310.02.html Duarte, M. S. P., Teixeira, N., & Carvoeiras, P. (2012). Proteção Radiológicaem Mamografia. Esteves, E. (2009). Controlo Estatístico da Qualidade Prefácio. Furquim, T. a C., & Costa, P. R. (2009). Garantia de qualidade em radiologiadiagnóstica....