NCT01785368

Referral Guidelines for Imaging Exams: Impact on Exam Relevance and Associated Delays

Implementing Referral Guidelines for Imaging Exams Requested Via the Emergency Department: Impact on Exam Relevance and Associated Delays

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 8,549 (actual)
• Sponsor: Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nīmes · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: —
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the implementation of referral guidelines for imaging exams requested by the emergency department on exam relevance. The latter is assessed via the rate of suspected diagnoses that are confirmed by the requested exam.

Detailed description

The secondary objectives of this study are to assess the impact of the implementation of referral guidelines for imaging exams requested by the emergency department on the following: A. How exam results are classified in relation to the initial, suspected diagnosis. B. Further aspects of exam relevance. C. Delays associated with exams D. Changes in practice in terms of type of examination, clinical situations, the number of tests ordered per patient, and emergency situations E. Radiation and contrast agent exposures

Conditions

• Emergency Department Admission
• Imaging Techniques

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Implementation of guidelines	The participating ER doctors are required to request imaging exams for their patients according to a guide mutually constructed by the emergency and imaging departments of the Nîmes university hospital.
OTHER	Baseline observation	During this period of the study, baseline data will be collected.

Timeline

• Start date: 2013-10-01
• Primary completion: 2014-06-02
• Completion: 2014-06-02
• First posted: 2013-02-07
• Last updated: 2025-11-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: France