RADIOGRAPHIC FILM REJECT RATE IN SOME HOSPITALS IN AKWA IBOM STATE, NIGERIA

The aim of this study is to evaluate the rate at which radiographic films used in diagnostic radiologic services in Akwa Ibom State are rejected after the films have been considered for diagnosis. One tertiary and five secondary radiologic services took part in the study. Nine hundred and sixty six (966) films out of 3670 radiographs evaluated were rejected. The evaluated percentage reject rate per body parts examined shows that the highest percentage of 92.0% of the rejected films were from chest examination while the least percentage of 0.2% was from knee examination. The percentage causal reject rate evaluated shows 42.2% film rejected were due to under exposure, 20.7% were due to over exposure, positioning faults accounted for 18.2% while patient motion and artifacts accounted for 16.1% and 2.8% respectively. Comparison of these values obtained with reports elsewhere and standards show that there are no potential risks on the patient. However to further reduce this rate of film reject, it is recommended that regular quality control measures should be carried on the facilities and the personnel be further be retrained.