Improving efficiency and decreasing scanning time of sonographic examination of the shoulder by using a poster illustrating proper shoulder positioning to the patient.
OBJECTIVE
Patients often have difficulty performing the various movements required for ideal positioning to enable accurate sonographic (US) assessment of the shoulder; this may result from pain and or unclear oral instructions. We performed this study to ascertain whether the use of a poster depicting the positions required during the examination would decrease scanning time and hence improve the overall efficiency of shoulder US.


METHODS
We retrospectively compared results from 50 consecutive patients who underwent US examination without (group 1) and 50 with (group 2) the use of an illustrative poster produced by the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology. The difference in mean scanning time between the two groups was analyzed with Student's two-tailed t test.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant difference in scanning time between the two groups (group 1: 3 minutes and 5 seconds versus group 2: 2 minutes and 9 seconds; p < 0.0001). The patients in group 2, especially those who had hearing difficulty, found the poster useful.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a poster illustrating positioning of the shoulder during an US examination is an effective way to improve patient compliance and significantly decreases scanning time.
Department of Radiology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, LE1 5WW, United Kingdom.
Amit
A
Shah
Department of Radiology, Kettering General Hospital, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8UZ, United Kingdom.
Maslah
M
Amin
Department of Orthopedics, Kettering General Hospital, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8UZ, United Kingdom.
Sriram
S
Srinivasan
Department of Radiology, Kettering General Hospital, Rothwell Road, Kettering, NN16 8UZ, United Kingdom.|Department of Radiology, Royal Orthopedic Hospital, The Woodlands, Bristol Rd S, Birmingham, B31 2AP, United Kingdom.
Rajesh
R
Botchu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057175:Posters as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
pictorial; representation; shoulder; ultrasonography