Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Diagnostic accuracy and reliability of smartphone captured radiologic images communicated via WhatsApp®
Dublin Core
Title
Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Diagnostic accuracy and reliability of smartphone captured radiologic images communicated via WhatsApp®
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Diagnostic accuracy and reliability of smartphone captured radiologic images communicated via WhatsApp®
Subject
Teleradiology
Smartphones
Digital x-rays
WhatsApp®
PACS
Smartphones
Digital x-rays
WhatsApp®
PACS
Description
Introduction: Sending radiographic images as instant messages have become a common means of communication
between physicians, aiding in triaging and transfer decision-making in emergencies. While use of technology is
increasing, this is not the case for the underserved or rural areas of South Africa with no picture archiving and
communications system or advanced hardware in place. In these areas, the medical staffing population have
nearly universal access to smartphones and could benefit from the ability to share images quickly and easily with
trained radiologists. South African data on diagnostic reliability of smartphone captured radiology images is
lacking. The objective of the study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of diagnoses made on radiologic
images captured with smartphone compared to radiologic images on picture archiving and communication
system(PACS).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with radiographs from June 2018 to July 2019 selected from the
PACS system at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital. Images were displayed on PACS computer screen and captured by
principal researcher using a smartphone. Five radiology registrars received the images via WhatsApp® and
reviewed them on smartphones. After three weeks, registrars viewed images in random order on PACS stations.
McNemar’s test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of smartphone vs PACS and Kappa values calcu-
lated for agreement. Reliability was assessed by analysing the results of different registrars and diagnoses
separately.
Results: 135 X-rays, representative of common emergency conditions, were selected. For all registrars, PACS
accuracy was generally higher than smartphone accuracy. The Kappa values all indicated fair to moderate
agreement between smartphone and PACS diagnosis.
Conclusion: Capturing radiographic images using at least 12-megapixel smartphone and sharing them via
WhatsApp® is a reliable method that can be used with a high degree of confidence in emergencies to aid clinical
decision making. This method of viewing medical imaging is however not a substitution for images viewed on
PACS.
between physicians, aiding in triaging and transfer decision-making in emergencies. While use of technology is
increasing, this is not the case for the underserved or rural areas of South Africa with no picture archiving and
communications system or advanced hardware in place. In these areas, the medical staffing population have
nearly universal access to smartphones and could benefit from the ability to share images quickly and easily with
trained radiologists. South African data on diagnostic reliability of smartphone captured radiology images is
lacking. The objective of the study was to determine the accuracy and reliability of diagnoses made on radiologic
images captured with smartphone compared to radiologic images on picture archiving and communication
system(PACS).
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with radiographs from June 2018 to July 2019 selected from the
PACS system at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital. Images were displayed on PACS computer screen and captured by
principal researcher using a smartphone. Five radiology registrars received the images via WhatsApp® and
reviewed them on smartphones. After three weeks, registrars viewed images in random order on PACS stations.
McNemar’s test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy of smartphone vs PACS and Kappa values calcu-
lated for agreement. Reliability was assessed by analysing the results of different registrars and diagnoses
separately.
Results: 135 X-rays, representative of common emergency conditions, were selected. For all registrars, PACS
accuracy was generally higher than smartphone accuracy. The Kappa values all indicated fair to moderate
agreement between smartphone and PACS diagnosis.
Conclusion: Capturing radiographic images using at least 12-megapixel smartphone and sharing them via
WhatsApp® is a reliable method that can be used with a high degree of confidence in emergencies to aid clinical
decision making. This method of viewing medical imaging is however not a substitution for images viewed on
PACS.
Creator
Unathi Ntja , Jacques Janse van Rensburg , Gina Joubert
Source
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.afjem.2021.11.001
Date
10 November 2021
Contributor
peri irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Citation
Unathi Ntja , Jacques Janse van Rensburg , Gina Joubert , “Jurnal Internasional vol.12 issue 1 2022
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Diagnostic accuracy and reliability of smartphone captured radiologic images communicated via WhatsApp®,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 5, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1882.
African Journal of Emergency Medicine
Diagnostic accuracy and reliability of smartphone captured radiologic images communicated via WhatsApp®,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed February 5, 2025, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/1882.