[The quality of the care of children and adolescents within the realm of conventional x-ray diagnosis--a pilot study].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate the current quality of the outpatient radiodiagnostic care of children and adolescents as demonstrated for the example of conventional X-ray procedures.


METHODS
A consecutive series of 166 outpatient X-rays, selected by fixed criteria, was analysed according to both diagnostic aspects and radiation protection.


RESULTS
The X-rays examined were mainly gathered from orthopedic and radiological practices and from hospital radiological departments. The majority of these outpatient X-rays showed significant deficiencies regarding exposure, appropriate field size, and focussing or positioning of the patient. After the evaluation of the 166 X-rays by a total-score, 25% (42/166) of the X-rays were considered to be diagnostically insufficient.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvements in outpatient radiodiagnostics are necessary to ensure adequate radiodiagnostic care of children and adolescents.
Tasch
C
C
Abteilung für Pädiatrische Radiologie, Universität Heidelberg.
Dütting
T
T
Zieger
B
B
Tröger
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009985:Orthopedics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data