Economic Evaluation of Computed Radiography Comparing to Film Method in Quality Control of General X-ray Machine at Phramongkutklao Hospital
Supakajee Saengruang-Orn PhD*, Thosporn Vimolket MD, MSc**, Manus Mongkolsuk MSc***, Somrat Lertmaharit MSc, M Med Stat**, Yawana Tanapat MD****, Busabong Noola MD*, Kamonwan Thungsiri MSc*, Pirom Kamolratanakul MD, MSc**
Affiliation : * Department of Radiology, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ** Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand *** Faculty of Medical Technology, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand **** Finance Administrative Center, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Objective : To evaluate the efficiency of quality control performance for a general x-ray machine between
computed radiography (CR) and film method.
Material and Method: CR performance as a quality control method for a general x-ray machine was
compared to the film method. Two raters independently analyzed the result of quality control from both
methods. Economic evaluation was performed by cost-minimization analysis. All data (result for quality
control and cost) were collected from Phramongkutklao Hospital from August 2007 to January 2008.
Result: Quality control performances of a general x-ray machine by using CR and film method were equivalent.
Interobserver agreement for analysis of quality control measurements was almost perfect. Unit cost, test
performance time, radiation dose for quality control by CR were less than the film method (p < 0.001).
Conclusion : The performances of quality control of a general x-ray machine done by the CR method are more
efficient than the film method. Using the CR method for quality control performance of the general x-ray
machines will save cost enormously.
Keywords : Economic evaluation, Quality control, Computed radiography, Film
