title: Developing an Appropriateness Criteria for Knee MRI Using the Rand Appropriateness Method (RAM)-2013.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Knee pain is one of the most common reasons patients visit their physician. In this regard Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the tool of preference for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine appropriate guidelines for knee MRI administration using the RAND Appropriateness Method (RAM)-2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study was done in the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2013. The most appropriate approved knee MRI administration clinical guidelines were evaluated using Guidelines Evaluation and Research Appraisal (AGREE). Panel members consisting of six orthopedic and three rheumatologic doctors gave scores ranging from 1 to 9 for each scenario. The indications were grouped as appropriate, equivocal and inappropriate. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and SPSS ver. 18 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-three scenarios were extracted from the guidelines and then the scenarios were evaluated in 26 indications. Thirty-two (50.79%) cases were considered appropriate, 12 (19.04%) cases uncertain and 19 (30.1%) cases inappropriate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The RAND appropriateness method is helpful in identifying the opinion of stakeholders in health care systems. Moreover, making practical use of clinical guidelines can improve patients' quality of care and prevent unnecessary costs.
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebrahimipour
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyedeh Zahra
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Mirfeizi
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Vafaee
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Najar
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Kachooei
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Shahriar
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Ariamanesh
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ganji
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Habibollah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Esmaeeli
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hedayat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Salari
authors.affiliation: Hossein Ebrahimipour MD, Health Sciences Research Center, Department of Health and Management, School of Health, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vejdani
keywords: Guideline; Knee joint; MRI; RAND Appropriateness Method