Developing Appropriate Indications for Prescriptions of Brain MRI using RAND Appropriateness Method

Background: Evidence Based Medicine can be define as the process ofsystematically finding, critically appraising, and using recently publishedresearches as a basis for making decisions regarding individual patients.One of themost prevalent MRI procedures is Brian MRI. This study aimed to identifying anddeveloping appropriate indications for prescriptions of Brain MRI in Iran.Methods: This is a consensus based study using one of the practical methods,RAND Appropriateness Method. The study sample was among experts in thetreatment and diagnostic field of brain disorders. The experts consisted of ninespecialists: Four neurosurgeons and five neurologists, all of whom were facultymembers and worked in educational hospitals. The list of indications and scenariossent to 9 experts for scoring. They scored the scenarios according to RAM (RandAppropriateness Method) instruction.Results: A total of 104 indications and scenarios were extracted. After that,Finally80scenarios fall in the category of appropriate scenarios, 20 in uncertainand4 in the category of inappropriate scenarios.Conclusion: Currently a huge number of medical imaging prescriptions may beunnecessary in Iran and there is need for developing clinical practice guidelines.The findings of this study can be used for developing national guidelines,conducting research to assess whether the criteria are followed in practice andwhether their application can curb the growing rate of unnecessary care in allcountries. In Iran, a limited amount of resources are allocated to the health sector.

کلیدواژه ها:

Developing ، Clinical Practice Guidelines ، MRI ، Brain