title: Analysis of radiological examination request forms in conjunction with justification of X-ray exposures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the adequacy of patient data and clinical information transmitted to the radiological departments by the referring clinicians in view of the justification demands concerning the radiological examinations, as those are described in the Radiation Protection Regulations of the European Union Nations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Request forms for 1708 patients referred to radiology department and 410 referred to the CT department were evaluated concerning the proper completion of the form fields. Furthermore, for CT examinations a more detailed evaluation was carried out, to assess the rationalistic use of CT within the diagnostic algorithm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Not properly completed request forms to both departments were observed, however, the omissions were more prominent for the referrals to the radiology department, where the age and the probable clinical diagnosis was not given in 81.5 and 46% of the forms, respectively. Furthermore, the emergency indication was less cautiously used compared to the CT requests. For the CT department 33.3% of requests were justified and the final diagnosis was included in the referring doctor's probable clinical diagnosis. U/S was the examination of choice in 51% of the cases where an examination should have been performed before CT and in 70.6% of the cases where an alternative examination was proposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The inadequate transmission of clinical information and the large number of not fully justified CT requests observed in this study are typical examples of the various problems that radiologists have to face in order to apply the justification directives.
authors.affiliation: Computed Tomography Department, Konstantopoulio-Agia Olga Hospital, 3-5 Agias Olgas, Nea Ionia, 14233 Athens, Greece. chatri@mycosmos.gr
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Triantopoulou
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsalafoutas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maniatis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papavdis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Raios
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Siafas
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velonakis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koulentianos
mesh_terms: D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006300:Health Services Misuse; D006801:Humans; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011872:Radiology Department, Hospital; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*