title: Impact of a training course on the quality of chest radiography to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis.
abstract: METHODS
  Socio-economically underprivileged urban areas in the Philippines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the performance of radiological technicians (RTs) 3 years after their participation in a training course to improve the quality of chest X-ray (CXR) and to test a monitoring visit after the course.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional and observational study including on-site monitoring of X-ray facilities in Manila and Quezon City and assessment of CXR films taken by 23 RTs who previously attended a training course in 2009 or 2010. The sum of the assessment scores for each of six assessment factors at four points, i.e., before and after the training course that had been previously analysed, and before and after the monitoring visits that were currently analysed, were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two assessment sum scores, identification mark or patient positioning, did not show significant differences. However, assessment of density, contrast, sharpness and artefact significantly improved after the training course, and before and after the monitoring visit, compared with before the training. There were no significant differences in any of the assessment factors before and after the monitoring visits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The training course appears to have had a long-term effect on maintaining CXR quality. The post-training monitoring visit did not significantly improve CXR quality.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT)/Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA) Philippines Inc, Manila, The Philippines ; RIT/JATA, Kiyose, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohkado
authors.affiliation: Philippines Association of Radiologic Technologists, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT)/Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA) Philippines Inc, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Querri
authors.affiliation: Gat Andres Bonifacio Memorial Hospital, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mercader
authors.affiliation: RIT/JATA, Kiyose, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshimatsu
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Tuberculosis (RIT)/Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association (JATA) Philippines Inc, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coprada
authors.affiliation: Philippines Association of Radiologic Technologists, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bañares
authors.affiliation: National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Department of Health, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: A M C
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Garfin
authors.affiliation: College of Healthcare Management, Miyama, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Date
keywords: monitoring; quality assurance; the Philippines; urban