Abstract:
Depending on their condition, most neonates in a neonatal intensive care unit
require multiple diagnostic imaging examinations. Therefore, radiographers
who perform these diagnostic imaging examinations should use optimal
imaging techniques, to limit radiation dose and to ensure optimal image
quality. The study wished to determine if radiographers were producing
consistent optimal chest images and limiting radiation doses for neonates in a
neonatal intensive care unit. A descriptive quantitative study was done by
utilising a checklist compiled from literature to evaluate 450 neonatal chest
images. Evaluation of the images indicates that radiographers seem unable to
adhere to radiation control regulations. The authors propose including the
checklist as part of a radiation safety improvement process, as it proved to be
an assessment tool for identifying areas in image quality that require
improvement.
