Medical image quality as a socio-technical phenomenon.
OBJECTIVE
The study aims to interpret image quality in laparoscopic surgery not only as a technical parameter but also as the result of the situation of use.


METHODS
Observational studies of laparoscopy in use, semi-structured and informal interviews with laparoscopists.


RESULTS
When medical images are digitized to exploit novel technical possibilities, image quality becomes a paramount issue. Image quality is often discussed exclusively in technical terms, but the socio-technical study of image quality in surgical telemedicine presented in this paper showed that it is definitely more than a purely technical parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
While the resulting quality of the image was significantly shaped by the persons involved, the concept of "quality" itself was also relative and changing with the situation of use. A given technology does not determine image quality. Rather than focusing only on the technical quality, the attention of designers and decision makers should also be directed to the socio-technical network surrounding the image and its use.
Aanestad
M
M
Department of Informatics, P.O. Box 1080, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway. margunn@ifi.uio.no
Edwin
B
B
Mårvik
R
R
D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000592:standards*; D009664:Norway; D011786:Quality Control; D012942:Social Sciences; D017216:Telemedicine