The Clinical Practice of Interventional Radiology: A European Perspective
- Beaumont Hospital, Department of Academic Radiology (Ireland)
- Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Department of Radiology (Netherlands)
The purpose of this study was to determine the current clinical environment in which interventional radiology (IR) is practiced throughout Europe. A survey, comprising 12 questions on IR clinical practice, was sent to 1800 CIRSE members. Members were asked to return one survey per department. Two hundred seventy-four departments returned completed questionnaires, 22% from the United Kingdom (n = 60), 11% from Germany (n = 30), 8% from Austria (n = 23), and the remainder spread over Europe. Experts, with more than 10 years of IR experience, comprised 74% of the survey group. Almost one-third of the radiologists dedicated more than 80% of their clinical sessions to IR alone (27%; n = 75), with two-thirds practicing in a university teaching hospital setting (66%; n = 179). Few institutions have dedicated IR inpatient hospital beds (17%; n = 46), however, to compensate, day case beds are available (31%), IR admitting rights are in place (64% overall, 86% for in-patients, and 89% for day cases), and elective IR admissions can be made through other clinicians (87%). IR outpatient clinics are run at 26% of departments, with an average of two sessions per week. Dedicated nurses staff the majority of IR suites (82%), but clinical junior doctors are lacking (46%). Hospital management's refusing access to beds was the most commonly cited reason for not developing a clinical IR service (41%). In conclusion, there is marked variation across European centers in the current practice of IR. Half do not have dedicated junior doctors and only a small minority have inpatient hospital beds. If IR is to be maintained as a dedicated clinical specialty, these issues need to be addressed urgently.
- OSTI ID:
- 21428542
- Journal Information:
- Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology, Vol. 32, Issue 3; Other Information: DOI: 10.1007/s00270-009-9503-0; Copyright (c) 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE); Article Copyright (c) 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC; ISSN 0174-1551
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Anesthesia Practices for Interventional Radiology in Europe
Informed Consent for Interventional Radiology Procedures: A Survey Detailing Current European Practice