Experiences and perceptions of nuclear medicine technologists in the assessment of myocardial perfusion image quality

• Published in: Journal of nuclear medicine technology Vol. 49; no. 3; pp. 226 - 231
• Main Author: Chipeya, Lucky Rachel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-2021
• Subjects: myocardial perfusion imaging; Image Processing; Cardiology (basic/technical); technologists; Quality Assurance; artifacts; quality
• ISSN: 0091-4916; 1535-5675
• DOI: 10.2967/jnmt.120.255125

Nuclear medicine technologists are experts in the acquisition of myocardial perfusion images, including many other images performed in nuclear medicine departments. They are expected to ensure that images are of optimum quality in order to facilitate accurate image interpretation by nuclear medicine physicians. However, optimum image quality assurance is a shared responsibility between nuclear medicine technologists and nuclear medicine physicians. The shared responsibilities resulted in inconsistences in the assessment of myocardial perfusion image quality among nuclear medicine technologists in the respective departments. Little is known about the perceptions and experiences of nuclear medicine technologists on the assessment of myocardial perfusion image quality. Therefore, the focus of this research study was on nuclear medicice technologists.
The aim of this qualitative study was to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of nuclear medicine technologists on the assessment of myocardial perfusion image quality. The research question was "how do nuclear medicine technologists perform the responsibility of myocardial perfusion image quality?"
The study followed a qualitative explorative approach using focus groups as a means of collecting data. Nineteen nuclear medicine technologists from four academic hospitals were purposefully selected to participate. A semi- structured questionnaire was used to conduct the focus groups. The collected data was managed using ATLAS.ti version 7, a computer aided qualitative data analysis software to formulate codes, categories and themes.
Two overarching themes emerged from the data. (1) The management of the myocardial perfusion images (2) resources required to support nuclear medicine technologists. The nuclear medicine technologists differed in their management of myocardial perfusion images, due to the prevailing circumstances in their respective departments. In addition, the results suggested that nuclear medicine technologists' level of involvement in the assessment of myocardial perfusion image quality was influenced by the availability of resources required for processing and assessing image quality.
Despite the shared responsibility in the assessment of myocardial perfusion image quality with nuclear medicine physicians, the nuclear medicine technologists considered themselves playing a major role. However, resources to facilitate the assessment of image quality are considered necessary and should be available to support the nuclear medicine technologists to submit images of optimum quality for interpretation.