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Lee and Choi: Effect of External Quality Assurance Evaluation for Chest Radiography: 3-Year Follow-Up in the Medical Institution for Pneumoconiosis
Original Article
Chest Radiology
Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology

Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology 2012; 66(4): 337-345.

Published online: 30 April 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.0000/jksr.2012.66.4.337

Effect of External Quality Assurance Evaluation for Chest Radiography: 3-Year Follow-Up in the Medical Institution for Pneumoconiosis

Won-Jeong Lee, DrPH, Byung-Soon Choi, MD, DrPH

Clinical Research Team, Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, Ansan, Korea.

Corresponding author: Won-Jeong Lee, DrPH. Clinical Research Team, Occupational Lung Diseases Institute, Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service, 87 Guryong-ro, Sangnok-gu, Ansan 426-858, Korea. Tel. 82-31-500-1806, Fax. 82-31-500-1811, atomlwj@daum.net

Received 26 December 2011       Accepted 31 January 2012

Copyright © 2012 The Korean Society of Radiology

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of external quality assurance (QA) evaluation for chest radiography in the medical institution for pneumoconiosis (MIP).

Materials and Methods

The chest radiography of the MIPs were evaluated for a radiological technique (RT), image quality (IQ), and reading environment (RE), during a 3-year follow up according to the Korean guidelines. Same methods were implemented each year to ensure that the results are reliable. RT, IQ, and RE were compared between examination and medical care (EMP), and only medical care (MCP) for pneumoconiosis, film-screen (FSR) and digital (DR) radiography. Uneducated and educated for QA during a 3-year follow up referencing with 2008 were realized.

Results

RT and IQ of the MIPs showed a significantly higher score in 2009 and 2010 compared with 2008 (p < 0.01). However, RE was not significantly improved. The score of RT, IQ, and RE of the EMPs were higher than those of MCPs every year, and FSR showed a lower score in all evaluations, although, more improvement was seen than the DR.

Conclusion

The chest radiography of the MIPs showed a significant effect as a result of a repeated external QA evaluation. However, the MIPs need to transfer from FSR to DR, and maintain a continuous QA evaluation for the MCPs.

Keywords: Pneumoconiosis, Thoracic Radiography, Quality Assurance Health Care

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