Vol. 2, No. 6, July 2012 ISSN 2225-7217 ARPN Journal of Science and Technology ©2011-2012. All rights reserved. http://www.ejournalofscience.org 533 Appraisal of Reporting of Trauma Images: Implications for Evolving Red-Dot System in Nigeria 1 Mark C. Okeji, 2 Benjamin E. Udoh M.Sc , 3 Sobechukwu W. Onwuzu 1 Department of Medical Radiography and Radiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus Nigeria. 2 Department of Radiography and Radiological Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus Nigeria. 3 Department of Radiation Medicines, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku / Ozalla, Nigeria. 1 markokeji@yahoo.com ABSTRACT An appraisal of reporting of trauma images in secondary and tertiary health care centers in Nigeria was conducted using structured questionnaires. The study sought to evaluate how timely trauma radiographs were reported by radiologists and the implication for recommendation of Red-dot system. Our study revealed that in all the hospitals surveyed only 8(22.2%) have permanent radiologists in her employment and 6(33.3%) have visiting radiologists. All the hospitals have operational emergency departments with a doctor and a nurse designated on duty. The study showed that it takes between 24 to 72 hours to report emergency radiographs in the surveyed hospitals. The absence of prompt reporting of radiographs increased the morbidity and mortality experienced in the surveyed hospitals. There is therefore need to introduce Red-dot system to assist emergency physicians to make prompt and more accurate diagnosis in the absence of a radiologist. Keywords: Radiographers reporting, Red-dot, Nigeria. 1. INTRODUCTION Radiographer’s identification of abnormality on a radiograph also known as Red-dot system in Medical Imaging is a practice widely used in the United Kingdom. It is a system whereby there is an initial radiographer’s reporting by the application of red dots on the radiographs to highlight abnormalities for the attention of the referring medical practitioners [ 1, 2 ]. This method was introduced due to limited number of radiologists and the need to promptly report trauma radiographs. Different modifications of the system are being practiced in various parts of world at present but its origin has been traced to an earlier work by Swinburne [ 3 ]. Several authors have audited the system as currently being practiced. Sonex et al [ 4 ] observed that only 1% of the pathological changes were missed by the radiographers. Berman et al [ 5 ] noted that radiographers’ reporting has reduced the possibility of pathologies likely to be missed by emergency doctors. They advocated a protocol of image screening by radiographers as a standard practice. . Vincent et al [ 6 ] in their study noted that the casualty officers many a time are inexperienced and frequent errors are usually made by their interpretation when compared with that of a standard radiologist’s report. In Nigeria, the Red-dot system has not been officially introduced in the health care system despite the limited number of radiologists in the country. This paper therefore was to assess the rate at which radiographs are reported in emergency department of some secondary and tertiary health care centers in Nigeria with a view to advocating alternatives to enhance better health care delivery. 2. MATERIAL AND METHOD This study was designed to cover the six geo- political zones of Nigeria. Two tertiary and two secondary health care centres in each of the geo-political zones were selected for the study giving a total of twenty-four hospitals. Authorization for the study was obtained from the hospitals concerned and the aim of the study was explained to the respondents. Two sets of structured questionnaires were designed for the study. The first set of questionnaires was for the radiographers while the second set was for the nurses working in the emergency departments of the same hospitals. The questionnaires were validated by a Chief radiographer and a Chief Nursing Officer who were asked to assess the appropriateness and relevance of the questions. The questions were reviewed after the pilot study. A total of 96 questionnaires were sent out to the radiographers and 81 were received giving a return rate of 84.4%. For the emergency nurses, 83 questionnaires were sent out and 71 were received giving a return rate of 85.5%.The questionnaires to the radiographers sought to find out; whether emergency radiography services were provided, the knowledge of the radiographers towards identification of pathologies, whether radiographers run on-call-duty services, whether radiologists are in their employment and hours of availability. The questionnaires for the emergency nurses sought to find out; whether the emergency radiographs of patients were reported and by whom, how long it takes to be reported, whether the radiographers were always available to attend to emergency cases and the implication for morbidity and mortality. This method