Evidence Based Health Policy, Management & Economics

en Appropriateness of Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Prescriptions and Imposed Financial Burden: Evidence from Iran Health Policy پژوهشي Original article Background: The use of advanced and expensive technologies requires financial, human and capital resources. Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has high contrast sensitivity for visualizing differences among the tissues. Unnecessary diagnostic imaging imposes excessive cost on health systems. This study aimed to determine the appropriateness of brain MRI prescriptions in 2021. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 274 patients who referred to Bushehr teaching hospital. They had been prescribed MRI of the brain due to headache and dizziness. We used the data collection form developed in the previous study. The appropriateness of the brain MRI prescription was determined based on the appropriate indications during 2021. Results: About 61 % of the referrals were due to headache and 39 % were because of dizziness. Overall, MRI was evaluated as inappropriate for about 38 % of the patients. The appropriateness of prescriptions had a significant relationship with age, gender, education, job status, complaint, prescribing physician, and MRI applicant with P-value > 0.050. Conclusion: Findings revealed more than one-third of brain MRI services were not clinically appropriate. Due to the high cost of MRI, it is necessary to make prescriptions in accordance with indications to prevent unnecessary diagnostic procedures and to prevent induced demand. Health system policymakers and healthcare providers should develop clinical guidelines and implement them to reduce the costs of health systems.   MRI, Brain, Appropriateness, Clinical guidelines, Headache 82 89 http://jebhpme.ssu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-35-8&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mohammadreza Kalantarhormozi 0000-0003-4029-2370 No The Persian Gulf Tropical Medicine Research Center, The Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran. Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Ahmad Yazdanpanah 0000-0003-4837-7790 No Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Mohammadreza Yazdankhahfard 0000-0003-4153-6613 No Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Batool Amiri 0000-0002-4451-2804 No Clinical Research Development Unit,The Persian Gulf Martyrs Hospital, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Reza Nemati 0000-0001-8155-8855 No Neurology Department, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Milad Sohrabi Shekafti 0000-0001-5607-3231 No Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Hedayat Salari 0000-0002-3410-5340 No Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran Atefe Esfandiari Atefehesfandiari88@gmail.com 0000-0001-6968-0217 Yes Department of Health Policy & Management, School of Medicine, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran