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Over‐imaging in uncomplicated low back pain: a 12‐month audit of a general medical unit
Author(s) -
Rego M. H.,
Nagiah S.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
internal medicine journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 1444-0903
DOI - 10.1111/imj.13279
Subject(s) - medicine , audit , low back pain , retrospective cohort study , medical imaging , modality (human–computer interaction) , unit (ring theory) , physical therapy , medical emergency , emergency medicine , radiology , surgery , alternative medicine , management , pathology , human–computer interaction , computer science , economics , mathematics education , mathematics
Low back pain is frequently encountered in hospitals and is a leading cause of disability, often involving costly imaging that exposes a patient to radiation. A retrospective 12‐month audit at a South Australian tertiary hospital aimed to evaluate the frequency, modality and appropriateness of imaging in patients with low back pain. Results showed that the general medical unit was unnecessarily ordering imaging in 40% of patients who exhibited no indications warranting such a procedure. A standardised protocol is required to preventing clinicians from requesting imaging solely for the purposes of self‐reassurance, patient reassurance or fear of litigation.