Imaging in endocrinology: use of a potential methodology for audit consensus development
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Published on: January 12, 2013
1Department of Endocrinology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
Objective:
To explore areas of consensus in the use of imaging techniques in the investigation of endocrine disorders.
Design:
A postal questionnaire sent to members of the Endocrine Section of the Royal Society of Medicine following a meeting of the Section in January 1993 on Imaging in Endocrinology.
Subjects:
Fifty-two specialists completed the questionnaire which was sent in the first mailing after the meeting.
Measurements:
Consensus statements were defined as those in which greater than 75% of respondents either agreed or opposed the statement. Majority support or rejection was defined as greater than 50% in favour with less than 25% opposed or vice versa.
Results:
Many areas of consensus were defined particularly in the field of the use of imaging in the investigation of pituitary disease. The questionnaire highlighted difficulties in obtaining a consensus view on the imaging techniques which should be employed in the investigation of thyroid, parathyroid and pancreatic disorders.
Conclusion:
The results are a useful guide to areas in which further discussion and/or research is required. This methodology could, and we believe should, be applied to other areas of endocrine practice. Such results provide an initial data base to develop national audit guide-lines on the use of imaging techniques in endocrine disorders.
