RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The role of teleradiology during COVID-19 outbreak
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 202
OP 210
DO 10.15537/smj.2023.44.2.20220793
VO 44
IS 2
A1 Shrooq T. Al-Dahery
A1 Walaa M. Alsharif
A1 Fatima H. Alamri
A1 Shahad A. Nawawi
A1 Wed K. Mofti
A1 Fahad H. Alhazmi
A1 Khalid M. Alshamrani
A1 Awadia G. Suliman
A1 Abdulaziz A. Qurashi
YR 2023
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/44/2/202.abstract
AB Objectives: To evaluate the role of teleradiology during the COVID-19 pandemic from Saudi radiologists’ perspectives to improve the radiology quality service.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Arabia among radiologists working at local hospitals from October to November 2021. It contains 21 questions involved demographic information; general information on teleradiology services; and the impact of teleradiology during COVID-19. One-way ANOVA was used to compare demographic groups. Chi-square test was used to compare demographic groups regarding their distribution of responses. All tests were carried out <0.05 level of significance.Results: A total of 102 radiologists participated in this study (56% males, 44% females), 58.8% of them were sub-specialized in chest radiology. Regarding the general status of teleradiology, 69.6% of participants believed that teleradiology is a helpful tool for imaging interpretation. However, 44% of them were uncertain on the impact of teleradiology on patients’ confidentiality. Approximately 87% of participants agreed that there is a positive contribution of teleradiology during COVID-19, which enables decreasing risk of infection and workload. There was a significant difference between professional degrees and overall participant responses (p<0.05). Academicians agreed that it enhances radiology departments’ work (mean=17.78, SD=1.86).Conclusion: Concerns raised on complicated cases that require physical presence of patients, cannot be performed by teleradiology. Additionally, it might provide insufficient communication with other professionals to discuss images.