PERCEPTION OF CO-ASSISTENT OF DENTISTRY ON DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY: AN EXTENSION OF THE TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTANCE MODEL (TAM2)

Conventional radiography has long been used since 1895. With the development of technology, the radiology department has also developed with the use of digital radiography to facilitating patient service. Digital radiography is profitable for new hospitals or dentists because the maintenance costs will be cheaper. Also has a low cost of film making because the hospital does not require a fee for solutions for processing. Digital Radiography also reducing the need for space, because the hospital does not need space to process the film. Furthermore, The staff needed to run the service are also fewer. However, the existence of digital radiography has not completely replaced conventional radiography. Due to the large cost needed in the procurement. Rumah Sakit Gigi dan Mulut (RSGM) Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (Unsoed) is one hospital that is developing digital radiographs in its services. The acceptance of this technology by the user needs to be known because the use of digital radiography users are less than conventional radiography. User acceptance is the desire of a group of users to utilize information technology designed to help their work. To predict user acceptance of information systems, researchers create models that can describe user acceptance. One model of technology acceptance is the Technology Acceptance Model 2 (TAM 2). The aim of this study was to find out the co-assistent acceptance of new technology, namely digital radiography. This study use an analytical cross sectional design with quantitative method. The survey was administered to a sample of 104 co-assistent randomly selected from RSGM Unsoed who have already used radiography digital. All data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM). The result is only subjective norm that had significant effect to perceived of usefulness. Other variable are rejected. young dentists are still under the supervision of the DPJP [17]. Meanwhile, DPJP RSGM Unsoed is not familiar with digital radiography, and often uses conventional radiography. Keywords: Digital Radiography, TAM 2, Co-Assistent, Acceptance, Technolog

Digital radiography detector performance

The characterization of physical properties of digital imaging systems requires the determination and measurement of detectors’ physical performance. Those measures such as modulation transfer function (MTF), noise power spectra (NPS), and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) provide objective evaluations of digital detectors’ performance. To provide an MTF, NPS, and DQE calculation from raw-data images it is necessary to implement a method that is undertaken by two major steps: (1) image acquisition and (2) quantitative measure determination method. In this chapter a comprehensive description about a method to provide the measure of performance of digital radiography detectors is provided

Comparison of radiation dose, workflow, patient comfort and financial break-even of standard digital radiography and a novel biplanar low-dose X-ray system for upright full-length lower limb and whole spine radiography

Objective: To compare the radiation dose, workflow, patient comfort, and financial break-even of a standard digital radiography and a biplanar low-dose X-ray system. Materials and methods: A standard digital radiography system (Ysio, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) was compared with a biplanar X-ray unit (EOS, EOS imaging, Paris, France) consisting of two X-ray tubes and slot-scanning detectors, arranged at an angle of 90° allowing simultaneous vertical biplanar linear scanning in the upright patient position. We compared data of standing full-length lower limb radiographs and whole spine radiographs of both X-ray systems. Results: Dose-area product was significantly lower for radiographs of the biplanar X-ray system than for the standard digital radiography system (e.g. whole spine radiographs; standard digital radiography system: 392.2 ± 231.7cGy*cm2 versus biplanar X-ray system: 158.4 ± 103.8cGy*cm2). The mean examination time was significantly shorter for biplanar radiographs compared with standard digital radiographs (e.g. whole spine radiographs: 449s vs 248s). Patients' comfort regarding noise was significantly higher for the standard digital radiography system. The financial break-even point was 2,602 radiographs/year for the standard digital radiography system compared with 4,077 radiographs/year for the biplanar X-ray unit. Conclusion: The biplanar X-ray unit reduces radiation exposure and increases subjective noise exposure to patients. The biplanar X-ray unit demands a higher number of examinations per year for the financial break-even point, despite the lower labour cost per examination due to the shorter examination tim

Film Retakes in Digital and Conventional Radiography

Objective: To determine the film-retake rates and causes in digital radiography comparison to conventional X-rays method. Study Design: Comparative study. Place and Duration of Study: Radiology Department, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January 2004 to December 2006. Patients and Methods: X-rays of different body parts, conducted during the year 2004, with conventional radiography (n=170300), and in 2006 with digital radiography (n=174550), were included in this study. Measurements were done for number of X-rays re-take due to different quality control reasons for both the conventional and digital radiography. Quality control reasons included underexposure, overexposure, positioning errors, patient movements, portable X-rays, grid cutoff, and others (i.e. equipment related) due to which X-ray quality was questionable. Results were expressed in percentages. Results: A total of 9423 X-rays (5.5%) were repeated in conventional radiography (n=170300) due to underexposure (38%), overexposure (28.5%), positioning errors (25%), portable procedures (4%), patient movement (2%), grid cut-off (0.5%), and others (2%). Underexposure was the most frequently responsible factor for the X-ray repetition as compared to other factors (p\u3c0.001). In digital radiography (n=174550), 1464 X-rays (1%) needed to be repeated, which was significantly less in comparison to X-ray repetition in conventional method of radiography (5.5%) [p\u3c0.001]. In digital radiography, the most frequent factor for X-ray re-take was positioning error (435, 30%). Conclusion: Digital radiography is associated with significantly lesser number of re-take X-rays as compared to conventional radiography, hence minimizes the exposure of the patients to unnecessary radiations due to re-take X-rays. Positioning error remains a problem even in digital radiography, emphasizing training need for technologists

CDC immigration requirement update : all U.S. panel physician sites required to use digital radiography for chest radiographs of applicants for U.S. immigration by October 1, 2014

This update applies to chest imaging of persons overseas applying for U.S. immigration status and nonimmigrants who are required to have an overseas medical examination, hereafter referred to as applicants.The update provides notice to all panel physician sites, 1 year in advance of the implementation date, to allow sufficient time to comply with digital radiography requirements.The Culture and Directly Observed Tuberculosis Technical Instructions (http://www.cdc.gov/immigrantrefugeehealth/exams/ti/panel/tuberculosis-panel-technical- instructions.html) define the indications for chest radiography during the overseas medical screening examination. Currently, panel physician sites may perform plain chest radiographs using either analog or digital radiography. Digital radiography includes both computed radiography (CR) and direct digital radiography (DDR). While digital radiography systems are initially more expensive than analog systems, long-term savings are realized due to absence of film and processing costs and faster applicant imaging times. Compared with analog radiography, digital radiography generally produces better image quality due to fewer technical requirements. It offers more consistent image labeling and easier image comparison, and allows physicians to easily optimize, store and send chest radiographs. In addition, if DDR systems are used properly, DDR delivers lower radiation doses during exposure. These features improve diagnostic interpretation and increase applicant safety.Therefore, as of October 1, 2014, all U.S. panel sites must use digital radiography (CR or DDR) to obtain plain chest radiographs. This means that all applicants applying to enter the United States who are required to have a chest radiograph, must undergo digital radiography, as of October 1, 2014. Digitized analog images are not digital images and are not acceptable.digital-radiography-requirements.pd

Comparison of Diagnostic Accuracy of Cone Beam Computed Tomography and Digital Radiography for Detection of Vertical Root Fractures with and without Gutta Percha

Objective: Diagnosis of vertical root fractures (VRFs) is critical in endodontics; which most of the times occurs in endodontically treated teeth with root canal fillings such as gutta percha. Despite Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has significantly enhanced image quality compared to digital radiography (DR) which aid the diagnosis, artifacts has remained as a problem in VRF detection. The aim of this study was to compare accuracy of CBCT and digital radiography system in vertical root fracture with presence and absence of gutta-percha.Methods: In this experimental in vitro study, 60 premolar teeth were cut at the cementoenamel junction .The teeth were randomly divided into two groups; for one group root canal therapy was done and the roots filled with gutta-percha. The other group was the control one .At the first stage CBCT scan and digital radiography was done and subsequently, vertical root fractures were induced for all samples. Then all the teeth were scanned by CBCT and digital radiography system and three observer assessed CBCT images and digital radiographies for presence of vertical root fracture. ANOVA and weighted Kappa tests estimated the diagnostic accuracy values and inter-observer agreement.Results: All values for CBCT were higher than Digital radiography except for absolute specificity and negative predictive value (p=0.409, p=0.053). In both imaging systems, there was no statistical difference between presence and absence of gutta-percha. (p=0.599, p=1.000, p=0.673, p=0.373).Conclusion: Diagnostic accuracy of vertical root fracture was not influenced by presence or absence of gutta-percha. Additionally, CBCT imaging system had higher diagnostic accuracy in comparison of digital radiography

Image enhancement for digital radiography

Once in a digital form, a radiographic image may be processed in several ways in order to turn the visualization an act of improved diagnostic value. Practitioners should be aware that, depending on each clinical context, digital image processing techniques are available to help to unveil visual information that is, in fact, carried by the bare digital radiograph and may be otherwise neglected. The range of visual enhancement procedures includes simple techniques that deal with the usual brightness and contrast manipulation up to much more elaborate multi-scale processing that provides customized control over the emphasis given to the relevant finer anatomical details. This chapter is intended to give the reader a practical understanding of image enhancement techniques that might be helpful to improve the visual quality of the digital radiographs and thus to contribute to a more reliable and assertive reporting

Comparison of treatment planning decisions when combining CBCT and digital radiography verses digital radiography alone

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the recommended imaging modality of choice for evaluating previous endodontic treatment (1). The aim of this study was to compare treatment planning decisions made when evaluating previous endodontic treatment to determine if treatment planned and projected prognosis differs when digital radiography is used alone or in combination with CBCT. A retrospective chart review was conducted. Patients for whom a CBCT was taken were included in the study. Twenty-eight patients qualified. Patient’s periapical digital radiographs (Dexis©) were evaluated by 2 calibrated endodontists, a treatment plan was identified and a prognosis was projected. Later the same radiographs were viewed with CBCT scan. The CBCT provided significant information 75% of the time. CBCT provided the only information for an accurate diagnosis 17% of the time. Prognosis changed 38% of the time when CBCT was added. An unfavorable or questionable prognosis changed to favorable 30% of the time