Aim: This retrospective study aims to compare the postgraduate thesis characteristics from various sources in the field of radiology.
Methods: This was a retrospective study evaluating data that is publicly available online and at libraries and institutional review board approval, as such, was not demanded. We selected 40 published theses from the library of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi Medical University in Vietnam which graduated from 2008 to 2018. Of these, there were 10 PhD, 10 specialists II, 10 master's, and 10 residency theses selected.
Results: A total of 40 theses were analyzed from participants with a median age of 36.5. The male/female ratio was 23/17. Most of the theses were subspecialty in diagnostic radiology (87.5%) and focused on pathological radiology (95%). Adult patients were the major objectives of the theses accounted for 87.5% with predominant materials of magnetic resonance imaging counted for 47.5%. Theses in PhD group were the largest items regarding the total number of pages as well as the number of figures, and the number of references. Nonetheless, both domestic and international publications related to all theses were truly low.
Conclusion: The postgraduate thesis of radiology in Vietnam has many different forms but mainly focuses on diagnostic and pathological radiology with materials of magnetic resonance imaging in adults. The number of international publications regarding the thesis was very small.
METHODS: A questionnaire based on the Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards was electronically sent to 3 institutions each in 10 geographical regions across 9 Asian countries. Questions addressing 45 practices were divided into 3 categories. A five-tier scale with numerical scores was used to evaluate safety practices in each institution. Responses obtained from three institutions in the United States were used to validate the execution rate of each surveyed safety practice.
RESULTS: The institutional response rate was 70.0% (7 Asian regions, 21 institutions). 44 practices (all those surveyed except for the application of wrist tags for identifying patients with fall risks) were validated using the US participants. Overall, the Asian participants reached a consensus on 89% of the safety practices. Comparatively, most Asian participants did not routinely perform three pre-procedural practices in the examination appropriateness topic.
CONCLUSION: Based on the responses from 21 participating Asian institutions, most routinely perform standard practices during radiological examinations except when it comes to examination appropriateness. This study can provide direction for safety policymakers scrutinizing and improving regional standards of care.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: This is the first multicenter survey study to elucidate pre-procedural safety practices in radiological examinations in seven Asian regions.