Am J Perinatol 2015; 32(10): 980-986
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1547323
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Improving the Quality of Radiographs in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Utilizing Educational Interventions

Ashish O. Gupta
1   Division of Neonatology, Al DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware
,
Jeanne Rorke
2   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
,
Kabir Abubakar
2   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

23 August 2014

14 January 2015

Publication Date:
04 March 2015 (online)

Abstract

Objective We aimed to develop an educational tool to improve the radiograph quality, sustain this improvement overtime, and reduce the number of repeat radiographs.

Study Design A three phase quality control study was conducted at a tertiary care NICU. A retrospective data collection (phase1) revealed suboptimal radiograph quality and led to an educational intervention and development of X-ray preparation checklist (primary intervention), followed by a prospective data collection for 4 months (phase 2). At the end of phase 2, interim analysis revealed a gradual decline in radiograph quality, which prompted a more comprehensive educational session with constructive feedback to the NICU staff (secondary intervention), followed by another data collection for 6 months (phase 3).

Results There was a significant improvement in the quality of radiographs obtained after primary educational intervention (phase 2) compared with phase 1 (p < 0.001). During interim analysis after phase 2, radiograph quality declined but still remained significantly better than phase 1. Secondary intervention resulted in significant improvement in radiograph quality to > 95% in all domains of image quality. No radiographs were repeated in phase 3, compared with 5.8% (16/277) in phase 1.

Conclusion A structured, collaborated educational intervention successfully improves the radiograph quality and decreases the need for repeat radiographs and radiation exposure in the neonates.

 
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