尽管在非洲越来越多地使用诊断成像,放射学申请表(RRF)的完成仍然不理想,通常依赖于纸质通信。为了审查非洲大陆围绕RRF完成的做法,2024年3月25日,我们对描述非洲地区实践的同行评审文章进行了系统回顾.非非洲研究,涉及非人类受试者的研究,排除了研究RRF用于介入治疗的实践的文章。我们的搜索涉及PubMed/MEDLINE,ScienceDirect,Scopus,WebofScience,谷歌学者,非洲期刊在线纳入研究3004项,其中30项符合纳入标准。这些研究涉及八个国家,并强调了几个缺点,包括非正式形式的使用,非常规缩写,难以辨认,不准确,缺乏机构形式的重要领域,通常是末次月经和推荐人的联系方式。我们还发现所有RRF领域普遍存在不合规现象;一半的研究没有充分填写表格。不完整的RRF会导致成像延迟,增加了放射技师和放射科医师的工作量,以及由于信息不足而导致的潜在误诊。这也将阻碍辐射防护原则的应用。为了应对这些挑战,赋予放射技师和放射科医师权力,鼓励最佳做法是至关重要的。建议针对临床医生的定期审核和教育计划。虽然过渡到无纸化通信系统可能会有所帮助,在全国范围内实施质量改进项目以标准化放射科申请表目前更可行。
Despite the increased use of diagnostic imaging in Africa, the completion of the Radiology Request Form (
RRF) remains suboptimal, often relying on paper-based communication. To examine the practices surrounding
RRF completion in the African continent, on 25 March 2024, we conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles describing the practice in African settings. Non-African studies, studies involving non-human subjects, and articles examining the practice of the
RRF for interventional usage were excluded. Our search involves PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online. The included studies were 3004, of which 30 met the inclusion criteria. These studies span eight countries and highlighted several shortcomings, including the usage of informal forms, unconventional abbreviations, illegibility, inaccuracy, and the lack of important fields from institutional forms, commonly the last menstrual period and the referrer\'s contact details. We also found widespread non-compliance in all
RRF fields; half of the studies did not have an adequately filled form. Incomplete RRFs lead to delayed imaging, increased workloads for radiographers and radiologists, and potential misdiagnoses due to insufficient information. It will also impede the application of radiation protection principles. To address these challenges, empowering radiographers and radiologists and encouraging best practices is essential. Regular audits and educational initiatives aimed at clinicians are recommended. While transitioning to a paperless communication system might help, implementing nationwide quality improvement projects to standardise radiology request forms is currently more feasible.