Original Title: Radiologia Keski-Suomessa: Alueellinen toimintamalli 2000-luvulle

Authors' objectives:

The research project aimed at analysing the present radiological activities - i.e. the examinations performed and the resources used - at the health centres in the hospital district of Central Finland.

Authors' results and conclusions: At present, radiological examinations needed in the health centres in Central Finland are performed in numerous radiological units, in which a relatively great number of examinations are performed in proportion to the size of the population. There is, however, considerable variation between the health centres in the number of examinations performed per inhabitant (0.31-0.70 examinations/inhabitant/year). In spite of the great total number in the region, the number of examinations per year remains in many of the units as low as under a thousand examinations. Some of the units are underutilized: four of them take images only on a part-time basis and in nearly half of them the radiographers have other responsibilities besides those related to radiology. The radiological equipment is approaching the end of the life cycle: in more than half of the cases the equipment is at least 20 years old, and only a few devices have been purchased in the 1990s.

Authors' recommendations: A significant difference between the trials was observed in the practical implementation of the study protocol. Three common characteristics of problematical trials were identified: the difference of interventions; the extra burden inflicted through the trial to the surrounding health care system; and the extent of the recruitment area. One should try to estimate the difficulty level of any research project while planning the project. If the interventions differ significantly, extra care should be taken to ensure that the rest of the research protocol is as simple and straightforward as possible.

Authors' methods: Primary research

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2000

URL for published report: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe201210159436

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Finland

Organisation Name: Finnish Coordinating Center for Health Technology Assessment

Contact Address: Finnish Office for Health Care Technology Assessment (Finohta)

Contact Name: .

Contact Email: fincchta@ppshp.fi

Copyright: Finnish Office for Health Care Technology Assessment