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How is magnetic resonance imaging used in Iran?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 2008

Mohammad Palesh ,
Sten Fredrikson ,
Hamidreza Jamshidi ,
Goran Tomson  and
Max Petzold
Mohammad Palesh
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet, National Public Health Management Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences and Kermanshahi University of Medical Sciences
Sten Fredrikson
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge
Hamidreza Jamshidi
Affiliation:
Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and National Public Health Management Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Goran Tomson
Affiliation:
Karolinska Institutet
Max Petzold
Affiliation:
Nordic School of Public Health
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Abstract

Objectives: Analysis of and understanding the utilization patterns of diagnostic imaging technologies is important for planning health systems especially in middle- and low-income countries. Almost all published studies have been focused on utilization trends or utilization rates of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) over time and little has been published about utilization patterns of MRI. This study aims to identify and describe the utilization pattern of MRI in Iran.

Methods: Data was collected from referrals and MRI reports of the population covered by one of the largest insurance organizations (Social Security Organization [SSO]) with more than 27 million beneficiaries in the Country. We focused on patients who had undergone an MRI examination during 1 month (October 13 to November 12), 2005. The data collected consisted of 1,656 referrals for MR imaging and 1,547 MRI reports.

Results: No clear association was found between the number of referrals per 100,000 population and the number of MRI machines per 100,000 population (r = 0.30; p = .13). Neurosurgeons, orthopedists, and neurologists contributed to more than 88 percent of MRI utilization. The Spinal column (55 percent), brain (25.5 percent), and knee (11.0 percent) were the most common parts of the body scanned by MRI.

Conclusions: Having identified some of the most frequent users of MRI technology, any plan for modifying or improving MRI use should focus mainly on these specialties. International evidence on using the technology for examining brain and spine indicate that MRI is mainly used in diagnosing the central nervous system (CNS) diseases.

Keywords

Health technologyUtilizationMRIIranSocial Security Organization
Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 24 , Issue 4 , October 2008 , pp. 452 - 458
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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