[Quality of Medical Imaging examination requests in Bouaké (Cote d'Ivoire): about 3129 requests]

Assess the quality of medical imaging exam requests in order to facilitate their successful completion.

This was a prospective study, carried out at the Bouaké UniversityHospital over a period of 4 months. This study covered 3129 requests for examination. The aim was to evaluate the conformity of the different requests established by the CDEI indicator. Data analysis was carried out using Epi Info 7 software.

Requests for medical imaging exams were under-informed in 98.66% of cases by prescribers as defined by the CDEI indicator. The requests included the patient's name in 99.78% of cases, first name(s) in 98.91% of cases, age in 51.45%, and sex in 60.95% of cases. 84.79% of the reports came from the Bouaké CHU and 98.43% were dated. The patient's hospitalized status was not specified in 99.97% of the requests for analysis. The indication was included in 92.78% of the reports and diagnostic hypotheses were mentioned in only 94.76%. The imaging medium requested was specified in 99.78% with conventional radiography predominating in 80.88%. The anatomical region was mentioned in 92.49%. The identity and contact information of the prescribers represented 92% and 48% of the requestsrespectively.

The quality of writing of medical imaging examination requests was unsatisfactory overall with a high rate of non-compliance. Much effort to be made by the different actors.