WCWL - MRI Scanning

The WCWL panel on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was 1 of 5 panels constituted under this project. Methods: The panel developed and tested a set of standardized clinical criteria for setting priorities among patients awaiting MRI. The criteria were applied to 407 patients in the 4 western provinces. Regression analysis was used to determine the set of criteria weights that collectively best predicted clinicians' overall ratings of patients' urgency for MRI. Reliability was assessed using clinicians' ratings of 6 hypothetical paper cases. Results: The resulting weighted criteria accounted for about two-fifths of the observed variance in overall urgency ratings (R2 = 39.9%). The panel then modified the criteria on the basis of regression results and clinical judgment. Most of the revised criteria items showed poor inter-rater reliability, but test retest reliability (over a 2-month interval) was relatively good. Items requiring probability judgments were a challenge for clinicians. Further development and testing of the tool appears warranted.