Barium enema utilization within a defined geographic region: a survey

All 118 hospital-based radiology departments in Indiana (USA) responded to a survey of barium enema (BE) utilization. The percentage of community hospitals in Indiana using barium enema, both single contrast (SCBE) and double contrast (DCBE), for various indications was similar to that reported for major medical centers around the world (RF Thoeni and AR Margulis, Radiology, 167: 7-12, 1988). The use of SCBE and DCBE did not differ between small and large hospitals, or between hospitals in small vs large communities. There was, however, wide variation among community hospitals in their overall use of either contrast technique. Barium enema was usually performed without antecedent sigmoidoscopy. However, 60% of Indiana hospitals perform BE on the same day as flexible sigmoidoscopy. The results indicate that the use of BE in community hospitals in Indiana is similar to that reported for major medical centers. Also like major medical centers, there is no consensus regarding many issues in the performance of BE.