Ordering chest X-rays in Australian general practice.
Data from the BEACH program between 2012–14 were used to examine general practice encounters where chest X-rays were ordered. This included the most common problems associated with chest X-ray ordering and patient characteristics. Changes in ordering between 2004–05 and 2013–14 were also investigated. The rate of chest X-ray ordering between 2004–05 and 2013–14 decreased significantly. In 2012–14, chest X-rays were most often ordered in the management of acute bronchitis/bronchiolitis, cough and pneumonia. Pleurisy/pleural effusion had the highest likelihood of resulting in a chest X-ray order, followed by shortness of breath/dyspnoea and pneumonia.
BAppSc (HIM) (Hons), PhD, Research Fellow, Family Medicine Research Centre, Sydney School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, NSW.
Julie
J
Gordon
Graeme
G
Miller
Ying
Y
Pan
D000293:Adolescent; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging