@article{ref1,
title="An evaluation of the effect that the implementation of the NICE rules may have on a diagnostic imaging department for the early management of head injuries",
journal="Radiography (London, England : 1995)",
year="2007",
author="Hickman, C. and Harvey, J.",
volume="13",
number="1",
pages="4-12",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Guidelines by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) for the early management of minor head injuries initiate the use of computed tomography  (CT) for patients who may be at risk of developing intracranial haematoma. This  retrospective study was designed to evaluate the effect the implementation of the  NICE guidelines would have on the diagnostic imaging department of a local district  general hospital. The main objective was to establish if there would be an increase  in the number of CT head referrals for patients with minor head injuries. Secondly  to assess how the implementation of these guidelines would affect the workload to  the diagnostic imaging department in terms of cost and time, and to discuss the  issue of radiation dose to patients. <br><br>METHOD: A sample of 100 patients who were  referred from the Accident and Emergency department (A&E) for plain skull  radiographs, over a 4-month period were selected. The clinical information on each  of these patients' was then extracted and a data collection sheet was to assess each  patient according to the NICE criteria. <br><br>RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The study found an  18% (n=100) increase in the referral rate for CT heads for patients presenting with  minor head injuries. It was also found that the use of these guidelines would mean a  decrease in cost to the diagnostic imaging department of £324. Furthermore a saving  of 10h of radiographers' time was established, although the effective radiation dose  to patients would be increased by 29mSv. The NICE guidelines have proved efficient  in identifying patients with intracranial damage although this coincides with an 18%  (n=100) increase in referral rates for CT and increased radiation dose to patients. However, the use of these guidelines would reduce workload to the diagnostic imaging  department in terms of cost and time.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1078-8174",
doi="10.1016/j.radi.2005.11.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2005.11.003"
}