Decision support can help family doctors cut radiation exposure

Decision support can help family doctors cut radiation exposure

(HealthDay)—Point-of-care decision support can help family physicians select imaging that lowers pediatric radiation exposure and is in accordance with current guidelines, according to a study published in the May-June issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

Christopher W. Bunt, M.D., from the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Md., and colleagues conducted a double-blind, randomized simulation involving family physicians in the Military Health System. Initially, participants reviewed a pediatric hematuria scenario and chose imaging without . They were then randomized to receive imaging-appropriateness guidelines followed by estimated radiation exposure , or vice versa. After each step, imaging selections were required.

The researchers found that after viewing the guidelines, the first arm increased computed tomography (CT) ordering (P = 0.008), but they decreased CT ordering after reviewing radiation exposure information (P = 0.007). Radiation information decreased CT and plain film use in the second arm (P = not significant), with an increase in ultrasound and CT use after guideline presentation (P = 0.05).

"Decision support during a simulated pediatric scenario helped select imaging that lowered and was aligned with current guidelines, especially when presented with radiation information after guideline review," the authors write.

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