A Toolkit for Pediatric CT Dose Reduction in Community Hospitals.
Pediatric CT radiation dose optimization is a challenging process for pediatric-focused facilities and community hospitals alike. Ongoing experience and trial-and-error approaches to dose reduction in the large academic hospital setting may position these centers to help community hospitals that strive for CT quality improvement. We describe our hands-on approach in a pilot project to create a partnership between an academic medical center and a community hospital to develop a toolkit for implementing CT dose reduction. Our aims were to (1) assess the acceptability of an interactive educational program and electronic toolkit booklet, (2) conduct a limited test of the efficacy of the toolkit in promoting knowledge and readiness to change, and (3) assess the acceptability and practicality of a collaborative approach to implementing dose reduction protocols in community hospitals. In partnering with the community hospital, we found that they had size-specific radiation doses two to three times higher than those at our center. Survey results after a site visit with interactive educational presentations revealed an increase in knowledge, stronger opinions about the health risks of radiation from CT scans, and willingness and perceived ability to reduce pediatric CT doses.
Department of Radiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Department of Physician Assistant Studies, Elon University, Elon, North Carolina. Electronic address: diane_armao@med.unc.edu.
Diane
D
Armao
Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
Terry
T
Hartman
Department of Health Policy and Management, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Christopher M
CM
Shea
Department of Radiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Cassandra
C
Sams
Department of Radiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Marija
M
Ivanovic
Department of Radiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Lynn Ansley
LA
Fordham
Department of Radiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
J Keith
JK
Smith
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Pediatric CT; community hospital; patient safety; radiation dose optimization