Increasing use of CT requested by emergency department physicians in tertiary hospitals in Western Australia 2003-2015: an analysis of linked administrative data.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

This study aimed to examine trends in number of CT scans requested by tertiary emergency department (ED) physicians in Western Australia (WA) from 2003 to 2015 across broad demographic and presentation characteristics, anatomical areas and presented symptoms.

Design

An observational cross-sectional study over study period from 2003 to 2015.

Setting

Linked administrative health service data at individual level from WA.

Participants

A total of 1 666 884 tertiary hospital ED presentations of people aged 18 years or older were included in this study MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Number of CT scans requested by tertiary ED physicians in an ED presentation.

Methods

Poisson regression models were used to assess variation and trends in number of CT scans reque

SUBMITTER: Maxwell S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7934721 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature