Developing Practice in Radiography and Computed Tomography - Research Proposal Example

Developing Practice in Radiography and Computed Tomography Table of Contents Introduction 3 Background of the study 3 ment and Significance of Problem 4 Research Aim and Objectives 5 Literature Review 5 Brief Overview of Computed Radiography and its Influences 5 Brief Overview of Digital Radiography and its Influence 7 Advantages of Computed Radiography and Digital Radiography over Conventional Radiography 9 Methodology 10 Data Collections Methods 10 Data Analysis 11 Time Horizon 11 12 References 13 Introduction Background of the study Computed Radiography (CR) and Digital Radiography (DR) are two different imaging systems utilised in medical field and replaces traditional screen based imaging system in most of the countries. Additionally, both CR and DR imaging system technology are similar except the aspect of the image receptor. Based on its procedural nature, CR Photo Stimulable Phosphor (PSP) plates are transferred into digital scanner and scanned with the assistance of lesser beams that converse the stored image into digital array. On the other hand, DR utilises solid-state detector or light emitting phosphor as well as digital conversation techniques to generate digital array and images. Besides, all other aspects of the two imaging techniques is more or less similar that includes processing of digital imaging, transmission, display as well as storage. Furthermore, this system highly relies over Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) in respect of transmission and storage of the images (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2015). Apparently, CR and DR technologies in the healthcare industry provide significant benefits and advancements in the medical imaging process mechanism. With this regard, it can be affirmed that incorporation of the image regarding the conditions of patients will be easily and immediately be acquired, modified, deleted and transferred over the computers networks. Besides, the benefits of DR and CR are enormous, as it enables improvement in the quality of care, enhances the capability of X-rays, reduction of timing and scheduling of care benefits, quick image sharing and storage as well conventional in its using among others (Health Services Group, 2011). Statement and Significance of Problem As mention above, DR and CR methods of imaging system is noteworthy transformation in the imaging system used in the healthcare industry. Radiographs is often considered as the initial starting phase of diagnosis of the patients’ conditions in the clinical practice, as it is quite easily available, cost effective, highly familiar within medical representatives and time-efficient to develop fast image transformation to recognise the conditions of patient. In the current scenario, conventional radiography mechanism is increasingly utilised over digital radiography. Besides, key disadvantage of the tradition radiography is that it is capable of providing limited latitude dose, non‐linear grey scale and lower potentiality of the limit upto which, the dose of patient might lead to difficulties, as all such pitfalls reduces the significance of information over such images (Mohtavipour & et. al., 2011). Besides, in the traditional imaging system, once the image has been processed, it was impossible to be altered. On the other hand, expensiveness, utilisation of hazardous chemicals in processing, labour force initiation as well as long time in storing and retrieving the films could create significant issues over the patients’ healthcare. Furthermore, on the other hand, incapability of traditional films system of PACS increases the difficulty. On the other hand, DR and CR have immensely advantageous over the conventional film mechanism in respect of transformation, processing, costing, storing and presenting the image across the different networking systems. However, controlling the costs and benefits structure of development of CR and DR is the key aspect in the healthcare sector. Moreover, in order to realise the overall benefits from the same, healthcare clinic needs to utilise effective steps toward the development (Mohtavipour & et. al., 2011). Research Aim and Objectives The proposed research will be conducted in order to identify the current practices and analyse the future scope of CR and DR in the healthcare industry when enhancing the outcome of care. In this regard, in order to achieve the stated aim of the study, specific objectives have been framed, as provided hereunder. To measure the effectiveness of utilising computed radiography mechanism in image processing To measure the effectiveness of utilising digital radiography mechanism in image processing To ascertain the key drawbacks in the methods of processing through digital radiography and computed radiography techniques Literature Review Brief Overview of Computed Radiography and its Influences According to the report of ECRI Institute (2012), computed radiography is an image digitalisation system, which was designed to produce and digitalise the images of X-rays with the assistance of phosphor plates. Besides, the positioning of the patient and techniques to produce the images in CR is identical as that of conventional radiography. Moreover, the clinical application of the system is utilised in all spheres of radiographic examinations those were performed by conventional radiography in a much portable manner. However, CR techniques create an imaging plates threats as reported in the clinical practices. Besides, it has also been affirmed in this context that once the plates have been damaged because of the careless handling it leads to many difficulties to be replaced. Moreover, cracks and scratches also may significantly lead the plates to be unstable for processing the images. Furthermore, in order to implement the same in the real practice, power supply should be always stable (ECRI Institute, 2012). Similarly, Rahoma & Chundi (2012) stated that convention filming has been utilised from many years in the healthcare practices and has proven a key asset in the field radiography when concerning the assessment of various abnormalities in the patients. However, with the introduction of CR, which provided digital solutions to the practitioners and implemented those solutions, in which were considered as cost effective, friendly and aided with superior image quality in comparison to conventional techniques. CR, rather than utilising the mechanism of Conventional Radiography with Film CRF, utilises imaging plates to store the images. Notably, the imaging plate has photosensitive phosphors that carries latent images, introduced into a reader and convert those into digital forms. Conceptually, CR plays an integral role in reducing the costs by eliminating the use of chemicals in the process that has been used in film developer and fixers, which require high storage room (Rahoma & Chundi, 2012). On the other hand, McDaniels (2013) affirms that CR is a particular form of imaging technique, which captures the radiographic image over phosphor plates in respect of conventional films and saves them in electronic formats. The study also affirmed that unlike in the traditional conventional film techniques, CR also uses the ‘prompt-emitting phosphors’ techniques. However, the mechanism of reusability and capacity to produce many shots make them superior over the traditional mechanism. Moreover, the study highlighted various key benefits including reduction in the time of exposure, energy requirements, processing fast and quality imaging without the use of chemicals, and fewer mistakes over the conventional radiography methods make CR highly superior. Apparently, Shetty & et. al. (2011) regarded that CR is a technique that uses PSP, which is an image detector method and widely applicable in radiology departments due to its efficiency to provide the users a cost effective solution over the conventional film imaging method. Brief Overview of Digital Radiography and its Influence According to Lanca & Silva (2013) signifies that development of advance and digital technology has taken place in the traditional mechanism wherein most of the digital technology tools and techniques are available in the field of clinical practices. In this respect, DR is regarded to be a flat-panel system, which has readout mechanism in it, which integrates the X-ray-sensitive layer and develop the Electronic Readable System on the basis of Thin-Film Transistor (TFT) arrays. The key advantage of DR is that it is highly compact in its size as well as provides access to digital images. On the other hand, DR mechanism is much more efficient than the CR system having 20-35% conversion efficiency level. In this similar respect, the report of Koninklijke Philips N.V. (2014) affirms that DR imaging system provides significant benefits to the healthcare executives to provide advance care to a greater number of people with much reduced costs as associated with care. The key advantage of providing much improved quality image through a faster mechanism is likely to enhance the reliability and diagnosis solution to provide improved care to the patients. Nevertheless, in this regard, the study affirms that improved quality imaging will enhance the level of the confidence of diagnostics. Similarly, Sikakana & Thebe (2012) argues that in the current environment, with the continuous advancement of digital imaging mechanism, industrial radiography process has been continuously increased. The detection of the patients’ conditions based on DR system steadily enhances the radiography methods and surpasses the CR system. Besides, the technology is not only to be used in the medical industry but has also been used over broad ranges of sectors including refineries, power plants, aerospaces, as well as in the security sectors (Sikakana & Thebe, 2012). Correspondingly, Mehdizadeh & et. al. (2014) argues that DR, in current scenario has been accepted as the alternative of conventional radiography due to its superiority in terms of providing reliable outcomes like ‘digital adjustment’ in real practices. Additionally, advancements in technology in the recent decades and pitfalls over the use of conventional radiography have led to the inference that DR is the alternative having the ability to produce superior qualities in comparison to conventional radiography. Apparently, Williamson (2011) argues that radiographs are primary diagnostic methods those are prerequisites in the process of care in treatment. Additionally, radiography enables the clinician to provide a detailed and accurate outcome regarding the problems and issues of patients. Notably, DR is the technology that has several advantages over the traditional film radiography including view of images over the screen, wherein computerized archiving of the images enhances the qualities of images, declines the exposure and leads acquisition of images without the use of chemical processing. With regards to provide, acute care to the patients and proper exposure requires information provided by radiography. Furthermore, DR utilised the digital receptors, which is far capable of film and reduces the level of radiation those were needed to generate the diagnostic images and apparently reduces the elimination to chemical processing faults as well as disposable of chemical wastages (Williamson, 2011). Advantages of Computed Radiography and Digital Radiography over Conventional Radiography According to Rahoma & Chundi (2012), CR eliminates various disadvantages that the clinics had to face when incorporating traditional radiography systems. The storage phosphor plate presented in CR collects the pattern of X-Ray attenuation, which was developed by the reader and converts it into digital signals. The image that has been generated by CR is viewable like any other computer files on the screen, transmitted into electronic form, and printed out in the films. Furthermore, the capability of manipulation with the use of computer software enhances the visibility of those images. Besides, the mechanism of using the image plates over the conventional X-ray enhances the image quality. In addition, the key advantage of the CR system related to image quality is that it eliminates the requirements of retaking the images those have significantly resulted because of over or under exposures. Apparently, as the X-ray film method is criticised having inadequate linear responses over and under exposure will significantly lead to the development of unacceptable images. In this regard, it can be affirmed that CR enables developers to adjust the dark and light through the effective utilisation of management software that eliminates the need of retake. Furthermore, possibility to developing ‘bone-only and soft-tissue only’ images is also high in the contemporary mechanism, which was not possible in conventional methods and thus, is a key advantage of CR (Rahoma & Chundi, 2012). On the other hand, Wei & et. al. (2013) argues that digital mechanism of developing the image using CR and DR is highly acceptable in diagnosis of patients’ health conditions in comparison to conventional radiography films. In this regard, possibility to reduce the exposure of ionising radiation and reduction in the time of obtaining the digital images key, the digital radiography system is far much superior to conventional means. However, since the radiography technique possesses high potentiality of improving the qualities of images as well as automated analysis of images those have been processed with the system, contributes to provide better diagnosis. On the other hand, Levcun & et. al. (2012) argues that there are various advantages, which influences the clinician to move from film based system to CR system, those predominantly include reduction in the use of costly chemicals as well as other hazardous chemicals. Furthermore, it provides adoptive medium of image processing, capability of protecting and safety of workers and patients, improving the productivity and ability to quick sharing of images across the channels, which altogether makes digital radiography highly superior over the conventional radiography (Levcun & et. al., 2012). Methodology Data Collections Methods Primary and secondary sources are two basic aspects based on which, data is collected in any research to substantiate the problem(s) in focus. In this research study, both primary and secondary data collection methods will be utilised, as the primary data will be collected through face-to-face interview with 50 selected clinicians working in field of radiotherapy. On the other hand, secondary sources will also be collected by accessing the lately published articles, journals, and other relevant online sources (Kothari, 2011). Nevertheless, prior reason behind utilising both the methods in the study is that primary data will provide an opportunity to reveal the direct perceptions of the practitioners; whereby, secondary data will provide a theoretical purview regarding the research topic. Data Analysis Data analysis is a key integral aspect of any research study whereby collected data are quantified to draw a valid conclusion. Additionally, from a general prospective, qualitative, quantitative or mixed approaches are methods through which analysis of data gathered is possible. Moreover, in relation to determining the aforesaid aims and objectives, application of qualitative method for analysis of data is expected to prove very efficient. The sole reason of incorporating a qualitative approach in this study is it will help to provide an opportunity to generalise the perceptions of the physicians concerning the advantages of CR and DR over the conventional radiography method in an in-depth manner and support the entire study process to draw valid conclusions regarding the issue in concern. Furthermore, the collected data from primary and secondary researches will be analysed through a thematic analysis method to gain better understanding of the conceptualised phenomenon (Miles & et. al., 2013). Time Horizon The time horizon that possibly will required to conduct the study based on the different tasks that will be performed over the timeframe have been depicted below: Stages Days/Weeks Selection of topic of research NA Short research over identification of issues 15 Days Further research 20 Days Framing the objectives 10 Days Conducting literature review 45 Days Primary research 35 Days Analysis of data collected 20 Days Make required modifications 5 Days Findings and discussion 20 Days Checking for probable error that will likely to encounter 10 Days Submission 180 Days (6 Months) References ECRI Institute, 2012. Computed Radiography (CR) Systems. World health Organisation, pp. 1. Health Services Group, 2011. Advantages of Digital Radiography. Digital Radiography. [Online] Available at: http://www.softwarefordentists.com/index.php/2011030265/Digital-Radiography-Articles/digital-radiography-advantages.html [Accessed April 13, 2015]. International Atomic Energy Agency, 2015. Computed Radiography and Digital Radiography. Medical Physics. [Online] Available at: http://nucleus.iaea.org/HHW/MedicalPhysics/DiagnosticRadiology/PerformanceTesting/Computedradiographyanddigitalradiography/index.html [Accessed April 13, 2015]. Koninklijke Philips N.V., 2014. Efficient Digital Radiography to Help More People. Philips DuraDiagnost Digital Radiography Solutions, pp. 3-22. Kothari, C, R., 2011. Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques. India: New Age International. Levcun, G. & et. al., 2012. Going Digital: Assessing the Viability of Computed Radiography. Computed Radiography. [Online] Available at: http://greenfleet.dodlive.mil/files/2011/01/Fall12_Computed_Radiography.pdf [Accessed April 13, 2015]. Lanca, L. & Silva, A., 2013. Digital Radiography Detectors: A Technical Overview. Springer Science Business Media New York. McDaniels, M., 2013. Computed Radiography Offers a Range of Benefits. NDT, pp. 12-14. Miles, M. B. & et. al., 2013. Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook. SAGE Publications. Mehdizadeh, M. & et. al., 2014. Investigation of the Efficacy of Digital Radiography in the Diagnosis of Pulp Calcification with Specific Software Options. Journal of Dental Health, Oral Disorders & Therapy, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 1-4. Mohtavipour, S. T. & et. al., 2011. Direct Digital Radiography versus Conventional Radiography for Estimation Of Canal Length In Curved Canals. Imaging Sci Dent, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 7–10. Rahoma, E. A. & Chundi, P. A., 2012. Economic Evaluation of Conventional Radiography with Film and Computed Radiography: Applied at BMC, Advances in Computed Tomography, Vol. 1, pp. 23-29. Sikakana, I. & Thebe, M., 2012. Evaluation of an X-ray Digital Radiography System. Proceedings of 18th World Conference on Nondestructive Testing. [Online] Available at: http://www.ndt.net/article/wcndt2012/papers/148_Sikakana.pdf [Accessed April 13, 2015]. Shetty, C. M. & et. al., 2011. Computed Radiography Image Artifacts Revisited. American Roentgen Ray Society, pp. 37-47. Wei, O. K. & et. al., 2013. Comparison of Image Clarity between Digital and Conventional Radiography. International Medical Journal, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 329-331. Williamson, G. F., 2011. Best Practices in Intraoral Digital Radiography. A Peer-Reviewed Publication. [Online] Available at: http://www.rdhmag.com/etc/medialib/new-lib/rdh/site-images/volume-31/issue-11/1111RDH079-089.pdf [Accessed April 13, 2015]. Read More