ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of the operation of nuclear medicine technologists on the quality and efficiency of whole-body bone imaging with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
MethodsWe collected all the data from patients who underwent whole-body bone imaging with SPECT in the whole year of 2012 in Department of Nuclear Medicine, West China Hopsital of Sichuan University.From January to June 2012, no intervention was made.Between July and December 2012, a formal training including vein puncture, image processing, and post image processing improving was made for the technologists on the operation of whole-body bone scan.The difference in incidence rate of artifacts between the first and second half of the year was analyzed by χ2 test.
ResultsIn all the 12 424 whole-body bone scan patients, the first and second six months had respectively 5 920 and 7 186.And the artifacts incidence rates were 15.6% vs.8.9%(χ2=137.483, P < 0.001).In addition, the daywork efficiency was highly improved by 16.7%(48.5 patients/day vs.56.6 patients/day).
ConclusionThe operation of the nuclear medicine technologists not only affects the quality of whole-body bone imaging but also improves the work efficiency.
