Aim: To contribute a preliminary study, which allows the best use of the demand criteria and acceptance mechanisms of radiological explorations at the primary care level.
Design: Retrospective and observational study. SITE. Public Health Care Center Poblenou, in the Barcelona area.
Patients: A random sample of patients covering 15,000 X-Ray explorations.
Measurements and main results: The parameters evaluated were: the type of x-ray; the existence of otherwise of pathology; the physician requesting the x-ray; and the patient's age and sex. Results show greater use by the feminine sex (56%), with statistically significant differences (p less than 0.0008) (1 degree of freedom). The overall pathology rate was 43%, also with significant differences between different groups of doctors (p less than 0.0001) (3 degrees of freedom). 52% of the investigations were on patients over 50.
Conclusions: In general, the high percentage in primary care of pathological explorations should be noted; as should the variation in pathology rates between different groups of doctors, which suggests possible differences of criteria in the use of radiological indicators. The high percentage of patients of an advanced age will have to be considered in the planning of radiological services.