African Radiology Technology | 14 January 2016
A Replication Study: Assessing Operational Efficiency Gains from a Voice-Recognition Dictation System in Radiology Reporting at a Kenyan Tertiary Hospital
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Abstract
The adoption of voice-recognition dictation (VRD) systems in radiology reporting is often linked to improved operational efficiency. Existing evidence, however, comes largely from high-income settings. This study replicates such research within a Kenyan tertiary hospital to assess outcomes in a context with distinct resource and workflow considerations. This replication study aimed to evaluate operational efficiency gains from implementing a VRD system for radiology reporting at a tertiary hospital in Kenya. Its primary objective was to measure the change in report turnaround time following the system’s introduction. A retrospective, comparative analysis was performed. The median report turnaround time for a representative sample of computed tomography reports generated using the VRD system was calculated. This was compared against the median turnaround time for a similar sample produced via the previous transcriptionist-mediated method. Data on subsequent report amendments were also collected. The implementation of the VRD system was associated with a reduction in median report turnaround time. The median time decreased from approximately 72 hours under the prior system to under 24 hours post-implementation. A small proportion of dictated reports required later amendments for corrections. This replication confirms that a VRD system can significantly improve report turnaround times in a Kenyan tertiary hospital setting, aligning with findings from other contexts. The technology represents a viable tool for enhancing radiology service responsiveness. Hospitals in comparable settings should consider VRD systems to streamline reporting workflows. Investment should be accompanied by targeted radiologist training to minimise post-dictation corrections and ensure the technology’s effective integration into local practice. Voice recognition, dictation, radiology reporting, turnaround time, operational efficiency, Kenya, replication study This study provides empirical evidence from a sub-Saharan African context on the impact of VRD technology on radiology reporting efficiency, addressing a gap in the literature.