TY - JOUR
T1 - Appropriateness of knee MRI prescriptions
T2 - Clinical, economic and technical issues
AU - Solivetti, Francesco
AU - Guerrisi, Antonino
AU - Salducca, Nicola
AU - Desiderio, Flora
AU - Graceffa, Dario
AU - Capodieci, G.
AU - Romeo, P.
AU - Sperduti, Isabella
AU - Canitano, Stefano
PY - 2016/4/1
Y1 - 2016/4/1
N2 - Objectives Many studies show that a large portion of medical prescriptions for diagnostic examinations may be not useful for patient’s management or unnecessary. Rapid technological advancement has made it possible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be increasingly used all over the world, particularly for musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of the knee MRI prescriptions. Materials and methods A panel of experts found standard clinical practice guidelines in the management of knee disorders. Secondly, the finalized set of guidelines chosen was compared with the data of 400 patients who underwent previous knee MRIs, which were then reported in a specific questionnaire prepared by the authors. The rate of appropriateness of knee MRI prescriptions was then calculated. Results Almost 21% of prescriptions were totally inappropriate, 18.8% were uncertain, and 60.2% could be considered totally appropriate. The most frequent prescription indication was for meniscal disorders that account for 26.8% of the total indications. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that approximately 40% of the total prescriptions were totally inappropriate or uncertain and that most of these were made by general practitioners. In light of these results, the economic impact of inappropriate prescriptions on the Italian healthcare system has to be seriously considered.
AB - Objectives Many studies show that a large portion of medical prescriptions for diagnostic examinations may be not useful for patient’s management or unnecessary. Rapid technological advancement has made it possible for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to be increasingly used all over the world, particularly for musculoskeletal disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the appropriateness of the knee MRI prescriptions. Materials and methods A panel of experts found standard clinical practice guidelines in the management of knee disorders. Secondly, the finalized set of guidelines chosen was compared with the data of 400 patients who underwent previous knee MRIs, which were then reported in a specific questionnaire prepared by the authors. The rate of appropriateness of knee MRI prescriptions was then calculated. Results Almost 21% of prescriptions were totally inappropriate, 18.8% were uncertain, and 60.2% could be considered totally appropriate. The most frequent prescription indication was for meniscal disorders that account for 26.8% of the total indications. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that approximately 40% of the total prescriptions were totally inappropriate or uncertain and that most of these were made by general practitioners. In light of these results, the economic impact of inappropriate prescriptions on the Italian healthcare system has to be seriously considered.
KW - Appropriateness criteria
KW - Knee MRI
KW - MR prescriptions
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U2 - 10.1007/s11547-015-0606-1
DO - 10.1007/s11547-015-0606-1
M3 - Article
VL - 121
SP - 315
EP - 322
JO - Radiologia Medica
JF - Radiologia Medica
SN - 0033-8362
IS - 4
ER -