title: Assessment of picture archiving and communication system (PACS) at three of ministry of health hospitals in Riyadh region - Content analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) are management information systems used for distributing, viewing and archiving digital images by integrating different types of modalities through communication networks. PACS have many advantages that can lead to improving health care quality. PACS has been widely used in hospitals in Saudi Arabia for the past 10 years. However, an extensive review of literature in the field of PACS, among physicians and radiologists in Saudi Arabia, showed lack of local studies of this costly and newly implemented technology. Therefore, this assessment is very important to provide an insightful study of PACS in Saudi Arabia to provide proper recommendations for the PACS projects implementation nationwide.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this study are to, firstly, assess the perceived benefits of PACS among physicians and radiologists specifically in quality of care, secondly, assess the perceived challenges of PACS implementation and adoption inside and outside the radiology department, and thirdly, to compare between physicians' and radiologists' perceptions toward PACS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional descriptive study at three of Ministry of Health (MOH) Hospitals in the Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia. The researchers used two separate surveys questionnaires, for administration to the physicians and radiologists at the three hospitals. Apart from the questionnaire, included is feedback as responses to open-ended questions. Content analysis was used to analyze the feedback under two themes: benefits or challenges.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 46% (84/183) physicians and 88% (15/17) radiologists have participated in this study. The result showed that 70% physicians' views affirms that PACS improved physicians' efficiency. On the other hand, all radiologists who responded affirmed that PACS improved efficiency. For questions on the ability to make decisions, 69% of views have affirmed that PACS improved physician's abilities to make decisions regarding patient care. Using PACS has led to a reduction in patients' length of stay in hospital (LOS) question, 79% of total views were positive. In contrast, only 18% of physicians talked about PACS positively in summary views and 82% talked about the challenges of PACS whereas 20% of radiologists talked about PACS positively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results in the present study conclude that PACS was well perceived due to its numerous benefits among physicians and radiologists. However, radiologists showed more focus on the benefits of PACS than physicians. The main disadvantages are that PACS has resulted in difficulty in finding images, recurrent downtime and insufficient training.
authors.affiliation: Master of Public Health (Health Informatics Track), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Zainab M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Alalawi
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Monief M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Eid
authors.affiliation: Master of Public Health (Health Informatics Track), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; The Research Chair of Health Informatics and Promotion, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Albarrak
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006302:Health Services Research; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Content Analysis; Picture Archiving Communication Systems; Riyadh Region; Three Of Ministry Of Health Hospitals