A barium enema training programme for radiographers: a pilot study

We describe a training programme designed to instruct radiographers how to perform the double contrast barium enema (DCBE). The programme was assessed by comparing the first 50 unsupervised examinations with studies performed by senior registrars in radiology. Comparison was made by marking each study blind in terms of barium coating, colonic distension and visualisation of the colon in double contrast. A note was also made of the number of exposures, screening time, examination time and complications. No difference was found in any of these parameters when comparing the two groups. A further 50 patients were assessed at one year and this showed that standards had been maintained in terms of the above criteria. Follow-up at 3 years in the initial group has shown no missed pathology. We believe that delegation of the performance of the DCBE to radiographers is both acceptable to the patient and safe.