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PubMed1994

Low cost, patient acceptable, local analgesia approach to gynaecological outpatient surgery. A review of 817 consecutive procedures.

UNLABELLED: The objective of this study was to evaluate safety, cost effectiveness and patient acceptability, of performing a wide variety of gynaecological procedures, including endometrial resections, in a clinic using only local analgesia. Eight hundred and seventeen consecutive gynaecological procedures were performed under local analgesia only, with no sedation, including endometrial resections, cone biopsies, terminations of pregnancy, hysteroscopies, and local vaginal and plastic vulval procedures, as well as many combined procedures (figure 1) in a day-surgery ward annexe in the Department of Gynaecology, St John's District General Hospital, Chelmsford Essex. The main outcome measures were patient acceptability, safety and encountered side-effects of procedures performed under local analgesia as well as evaluation of cost-effectiveness and reduction in theatre waiting list times. A high degree of safety and patient acceptability was achieved, with other considerable benefits being short waiting times and much quicker recovery. The only complications were from the endometrial resection group, with only 8 (3.6%) of these requiring intravenous sedation intraoperatively, and 6 (2.7%) requiring overnight admission. No transfers to theatre during any procedure occurred. Savings per procedure, in cost and in patient's time, were very considerable. CONCLUSION: The local analgesia approach for a wide variety of gynaecological procedures in a combined outpatient theatre is safe and is highly acceptable to patients. There are also considerable benefits in cost and patient convenience, with a reduction in operating list waiting time, which in the current economic climate are worth considering.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed2005

Clinical acceptability of crown margins versus marginal gaps as determined by pre-doctoral students and prosthodontists.

PURPOSE: Marginal integrity is a very important element in evaluating a restoration; however, there is no agreement in definition of a clinically acceptable margin. The purpose of this investigation was to examine margin acceptability using an explorer versus the actual marginal gap widths at four locations on uncemented crowns on three extracted teeth using both predoctoral students and prosthodontists as evaluators. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The crown margin evaluation used 16 surfaces of four crowns fitting to three extracted caries-free teeth fitted into a dentiform. The teeth (nos. 14, 20, and 29) were prepared for a full cast (gold) crown using a chamfer finish line configuration, with some margins supragingival and others subgingival. After final impressions and working casts were made, die spacer was applied to the marginal area of the die before waxing to vary the marginal opening. The dentiform was placed in a mannequin in a supine position. Predoctoral students (N = 10) and prosthodontists (N = 9) evaluated each axial surface of each crown in the zone along the margin with an explorer and rated each surface as either "clinically acceptable" or "unacceptable." After casting, the axial marginal openings were measured with Image Pro Software using a digital microscopic image of the surface. Each participant repeated the margin evaluations 6 months later. RESULTS: Upon casting, marginal gaps ranged from 40 microm to 615 microm. The proportions of prosthodontists and of predoctoral students rating a given surface as "clinically unacceptable" were highly correlated (Spearman rank correlation = 0.81, p= 0.0001). The prosthodontists did not provide more or fewer ratings of clinical acceptability than the students, although kappa results indicated that the prosthodontists might be more consistent among themselves than the student raters. Upon re-evaluation, both groups rated between one and six of the surfaces differently than they had previously: the median number of inconsistencies was 1 for prosthodontists and 3 for predoctoral students. The prosthodontists tended to have fewer inconsistencies than the predoctoral students (0.05 < p < 0.10 Wilcoxon rank sum test), but this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The data provided evidence that those surfaces associated with greater margin gaps tended to have a greater proportion of ratings of "clinically unacceptable." The proportion of prosthodontists and predoctoral students rating a margin "clinically unacceptable" were highly correlated. Prosthodontists tended to have fewer inconsistencies than predoctoral students, but that difference was not statistically significant.

Crowns↗
PubMed2002

Evaluating acceptance and understanding of risk in the emergency department: are all risk statements created equally?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether mathematically equivalent but conceptually different presentations of risk from radioactive isotope exposure might affect the rate of agreement to participate in a hypothetical research study. METHODS: This was a prospective study of consenting English-speaking subjects more than 18 years of age who were asked whether they would agree to participate in a mock study when presented with six mathematically equivalent statements of research-related risk. Participants were classified as recognizing the equivalence of the risk statements if they accepted all or refused all of the risk statements. RESULTS: Three hundred forty-six subjects were enrolled. There were 55 subjects (16%; 95% CI = 12% to 20%) who refused all of the six risk statements, and 23 participants (6.7%; 95% CI = 4% to 9%) who accepted all of the given risk statements. Most of the participants (77%; 95% CI = 73% to 82%) did not recognize that the six risk statements were equivalent and agreed to some, or did not understand some of the risk statements. In stepwise multivariate logistic regression, being white, being of older age, and having higher education were associated with a higher likelihood of accepting or rejecting all six of the risk statements. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnicity, age, and education affected whether patients recognized the equivalence of six risk statements for a hypothetical study of low-dose radiation. Risk acceptance may be more likely when familiar concepts are used to express research risks. Researchers must focus on strategies that enhance the understanding of research risks and address the reasons for nonparticipation by subjects who are younger, of different ethnic or cultural background, or of lower education.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The nurses knowledge, awareness and acceptance of tissue-organ donation.

BACKGROUND: Organ donation and transplantation, although widely accepted as a successful medical procedure, is one of the new concepts in nursing. Organ donation does not occur as often as needed and the reasons for acceptance or refusal are not clear. To meet this demand more organs and tissues need to be recovered from potential donors. Nurses working on transplantation units are given in-service training and gain knowledge through experience. Nurses are in a position to inform, and to ask families to donate organs, and also to inform potential donors on their ward to the units. METHODS: A prospective, descriptive and semi-analytic study was designed. Data were collected using 25 structured and semi-structured questionnaires, over a week in April 2000. 3 general and 2 midwifery hospitals were visited and the purpose of the study explained. Staff were asked to participate assuring anonymity. A conference on the issue was offered on completion of the questionnaire if desired. The questionnaire came with an explanation of the purpose of the study, and thanked staff for their participation. They were given to the nurses in charge on each ward, and collected 3 days later by the researchers. The respond rate was 65.6%. RESULTS: Of the nurses, 87.7% had positive thoughts about the organ donation, but only 10.8% knew the donation law, 68.8% would consider donating organs of their own, 58.7% would consider signing a consent card, and only 36.7% would donate organs from their family members. Although, the majority had positive views about the issue only 34.4% showed willingness to talk to families and ask for donations, 84.0% would inform potential donors in the unit. Adequate knowledge and level of education were the factors effecting acceptance and willingness to be involved in organ harvesting efforts (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The only significant predictors of their acceptance and willingness were education (chi2 = 6.45, p < 0.05), and to have adequate knowledge (chi2 = 21.90, p < 0.001). Nurses were found in need of education about all aspects of brain death and organ donation including how and when to approach families to inform and ask for organs, and how to support families throughout the process. A brochure should be prepared in detail to guide them on this task. More research should be done to clarify the reasons for refusal of organ donation.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Safety, acceptability and endoscopic findings in foals and yearling horses treated with a paste formulation of omeprazole for twenty-eight days.

A paste formulation of the H+,K(+)-ATPase inhibitor omeprazole was evaluated in Thoroughbred foals and yearlings for its safety and acceptability. Twenty foals age 11-16 weeks and 20 yearling horses age 15-17 months were included and gastroscopic examinations performed 1-3 days before and at the end of each trial. Lesions were scored on a scale of 0 to 3 and animals allocated based on endoscopic lesion score and sex, with 4 animals in each of 5 replicates. Dosages of 4 mg omeprazole/kg bwt or sham treatment were administered once daily for 28 days, from a syringe graduated in 50 lb (22.68 kg) increments, the amount of paste administered being rounded up to the nearest corresponding weight in pounds. Acceptability of the paste or sham treatment was assessed and recorded by the individual administering the treatment on the basis of the tolerance or resistance to insertion of the syringe into the mouth, administration of the paste and if the paste was swallowed or actively expelled by the animal. Safety was determined on the basis of daily observation recordings and physical examination findings during and at the conclusion of the trial. Treatment was judged to have been accepted for all 420 doses of omeprazole paste and all 140 sham doses given to foals during the trial and for 418/420 doses of paste and all 140 sham doses given to yearlings. Two doses of paste were entirely rejected by yearlings. On the initial endoscopic examination, lesions were observed in the gastric squamous epithelial mucosa in 4 foals and 3 yearlings, and single small, superficial erosions were seen in the gastric glandular mucosa of 2 foals. On the second examination there were small, superficial erosions in the squamous mucosa in 3 foals and 2 yearlings, multi-focal superficial erosions in 1 foal and 1 yearling, and 1 foal had large areas of erosion extending from the margo plicatus toward the dorsal fundus. No lesions in the glandular mucosa were seen in foals or yearlings. There were no significant differences (P < 0.05) in lesion scores between the beginning and the end of the trials in the omeprazole-treated or sham-treated groups of foals or yearlings. A paste formulation of omeprazole, administered at a dose of 4 mg/kg bwt once daily for 28 days, was determined to be highly acceptable to the foals and yearlings we studied, and no adverse effects attributable to the medication were noted.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Multiformat video and laser cameras: history, design considerations, acceptance testing, and quality control. Report of AAPM Diagnostic X-Ray Imaging Committee Task Group No. 1.

Acceptance testing and quality control of video and laser cameras is relatively simple, especially with the use of the SMPTE test pattern. Photographic quality control is essential if one wishes to be able to maintain the quality of video and laser cameras. In addition, photographic quality control must be carried out with the film used clinically in the video and laser cameras, and with a sensitometer producing a light spectrum similar to that of the video or laser camera. Before the end of the warranty period a second acceptance test should be carried out. At this time the camera should produce the same results as noted during the initial acceptance test. With the appropriate acceptance and quality control the video and laser cameras should produce quality images throughout the life of the equipment.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed1984

Audit of admission to medical school: I--Acceptances and rejects.

A prospective study of the process of application, selection, and admission to medical school was performed. St Mary's Hospital Medical School received 1478 UCCA applications for admission in October 1981: 94 (6.4%) applicants entered St Mary's in October 1981, 436 (29.5%) entered other medical schools, 176 (11.9%) read a subject other than medicine, and 772 (52.2%) did not enter university. The study included 12.6% of all applicants and 12.9% of all entrants to British medical schools in October 1981. Educational qualifications, demographic variables, type of schooling, family background, and the manner of application were examined in relation to overall selection. A level achievement was the major determinant of acceptance. O level achievement, early application, and medical parents had significant but smaller independent effects on the chance of acceptance. Social class, age, sex, and school type did not predict acceptance when corrected for academic and other factors. Few differences in personality, career preference, cultural interests or attitudes were found between those accepted and those rejected.

Educational Measurement↗
PubMed2005

Evaluating the acceptability and feasibility of the I Promise Program: a driving program for families with young new drivers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the I Promise Program (IPP), a driving program developed for families with young new drivers (YNDs). DESIGN, SETTING, AND SUBJECTS: The IPP consists of a contract between parents and YNDs and a rear window decal (sticker). Program acceptability was assessed through four focus groups with 40 young new drivers (YND), two with 19 parents of YNDs, and two with 15 community members. To determine whether the program's design, materials, and procedures were working as planned, 51 families participated in a six month pilot project. Telephone and in-person interviews were conducted at months 1 and 6, respectively. RESULTS: Participants had problems with the acceptability of the program's underlying message; content, format, and language of the materials; program cost; and proposed participant incentives. Thirty eight (75%) families completed the six month pilot. Most YNDs (75%) and parents (85%) identified the contract as a useful communication tool. Despite positive initial reactions, 50% of YNDs did not recall the content of the contract after six months. Sixty eight percent of families had problems with the decal (for example, did not stay affixed, colors faded) and only 17% of YNDs reported a lasting impact on their driving. Only 20% of families chose to continue in the program after the pilot. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the importance of formative and process evaluation in the development of a new prevention strategy to assess a strategy's acceptability and feasibility. In response to participants' feedback, revisions made to the program's materials and delivery model included making its two key components-the contract and decal-available online, independent of each other, and free of charge.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed2003

Male circumcision: an acceptable strategy for HIV prevention in Botswana.

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision is known to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV, but few studies have been performed to assess its acceptability among either children or adults in sub-Saharan Africa. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional survey in nine geographically representative locations in Botswana to determine the acceptability of male circumcision in the country, as well as the preferred age and setting for male circumcision. Interviews were conducted using standardised questionnaires both before and after an informational session outlining the risks and benefits of male circumcision. RESULTS: Among 605 people surveyed, the median age was 29 years (range 18-74 years), 52% were male, and >15 ethnicities were represented. Before the informational session, 408 (68%) responded that they would definitely or probably circumcise a male child if circumcision was offered free of charge in a hospital setting; this number increased to 542 (89%) after the informational session. Among 238 uncircumcised men, 145 (61%) stated that they would definitely or probably get circumcised themselves if it were offered free of charge in a hospital setting; this increased to 192 (81%) after the informational session. In a multivariate analysis of all participants, people with children were more likely to favour circumcision than people without children (adjusted odds ratio 1.8, 95% CI 1.0 to 3.4). Most participants (55%) felt that the ideal age for circumcision is before 6 years, and 90% of participants felt that circumcision should be performed in the hospital setting. CONCLUSIONS: Male circumcision appears to be highly acceptable in Botswana. The option for safe circumcision should be made available to parents in Botswana for their male children. Circumcision might also be an acceptable option for adults and adolescents, if its efficacy as an HIV prevention strategy among sexually active people is supported by clinical trials.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Acceptance testing of radiologic systems: experience in testing 129 imaging systems at two major medical facilities.

The problems encountered in acceptance testing of newly installed imaging equipment at two major medical institutions over a 10-year period are presented. Acceptance tests were conducted in 129 newly installed imaging systems with conventional acceptance testing methods. A total of 1,132 problems were documented. Problems were classified as major or minor; there were 772 major problems and 360 minor problems. An average of six major and three minor problems were documented in each new equipment installation tested. In some instances, final payment was withheld for several months or more to ensure correction of the problems identified. This experience confirms the need of thorough acceptance testing of new imaging equipment before final payment is made to the vendor.

Alabama↗
PubMed1975

Degree of pathology as related to readiness to accept labels in process and reactive schizophrenics.

Two experiments were performed in order to determine whether readiness to accept deviant labels, as measured by acquiescence set, interacts with type of schizophrenia (process vs. reactive) to influence level of pathology. It was found on both a behavioral measure and a psychometric measure of psychopathology that high acquiescent process schizophrenics manifested more pathology than did either low acquiescent process or reactive schizophrenics, both of whom showed more pathology than high acquiescent reactive schizophrenics. The results suggest that one's acceptance of deviant labels as well as one's past history of being assigned social and evaluative labels may influence the patient's level of pathology. Scheff (1966), in viewing the mental patient from a sociological perspective, suggests that an important determinant of mental disorder is the acceptance by the deviant individual of the various labels which stigmatize him as mentally ill. If this is the case, then individual differences in readiness to accept or agree with labels about oneself may be related to the degree of pathology manifested in a psychiatric population. The present authors sought to determine if acquiescence set, as measured by the Agreement Response Scale (Couch & Keniston, 1960), is related to degree of pathology in schizophrenic patients. The Agreement Response Scale was used as a measure of the general tendency to acquiesce to or agree with personality statements or labels. The investigators performed two experiments, in Experiment 1 a behavioral measure of pathology was used and in Experiment 2 a psychometric measure of pathology was used. In addition, the schizophrenic Ss were grouped according to the process-reactive distinction as the reactive schizophrenic may be expected to have a more favorable history of labeling than would the process schizophrenic.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Marriage, impairment, and acceptance in persons with multiple sclerosis.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between marital status, marital concern, perceived impairment, health-promoting behaviors, and acceptance of disability using cross-sectional and longitudinal data from a sample of persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). We hypothesized that the quality and stability of the marital relationship would influence people's ability to accept their disability and protect from accumulation of impairment over time. Furthermore, men and women would receive dissimilar benefits from marriage. These hypotheses were considered with repeated measures analysis, Pearson correlations, and independent sample t tests of data obtained from a longitudinal study of persons with MS. The findings indicate that acceptance of disability and perceived impairment increase significantly over time for men and women. For men, being married was associated with a greater acceptance of disability and less perceived impairment. Men were more concerned than the women about how MS affected their sexual relationships.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2004

Acceptability and disintegration rates of orally disintegrating risperidone tablets in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the disintegration profile, acceptability, and tolerability of orally disintegrating risperidone tablets in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. METHOD: Ten patients stable for at least 10 days on monotherapy with oral risperidone 2 mg to 4 mg taken once daily were switched for 7 days to an equivalent dosage of orally disintegrating risperidone. Visual assessments for time to initial and complete disintegration were collected at each visit. Clinical Global Impression of Severity scores were collected at baseline and at the last visit. Patient acceptance of the new formulation, rated according to a visual analog scale, was obtained at the last visit. RESULTS: All patients maintained stable clinical status. Mean time to initial disintegration was 5.1 seconds, SD 0.8, and mean time to complete disintegration was 29.4 seconds, SD 18.4. The formulation was rated as very acceptable. Adverse events were reported by 5 patients; all were mild. CONCLUSION: The orally disintegrating risperidone tablets were well tolerated and rated as very acceptable by all patients.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Randomised trial of prostate cancer screening in The Netherlands: assessment of acceptance and motives for attendance.

OBJECTIVES: To assess motives for attending a randomised population based prostate cancer screening trial, and to assess acceptance of screening and invitation procedures. METHODS: First pilot of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC; 1992/1993). Men aged 55-75 years, randomly selected from the population register of four city districts of Rotterdam, were invited by a single invitation for screening. Screening consisted of prostate specific antigen prescreening followed by either (1) digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasound, and, on indication, biopsy, or (2) no additional screening. After screening, or in the case of non-attendance, a questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 600 attenders and 400 non-attenders, with a reminder after three weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: In both attenders and non-attenders: knowledge of prostate cancer, attitudes towards screening, motives for attending, procedural aspects and sociodemographic characteristics. In attenders, acceptance of screening procedures. RESULTS: The response rate for the questionnaire was 76%: 94% in attenders and 42% in non-attenders. The main reasons for attending were expected personal benefit (76%) and scientific value (39%), and those for not attending were absence of urological complaints (41%) and anticipated pain or discomfort (24%). Uptake of screening was 32%, which increased to a sustained 42% in following years. Attenders, compared with non-attenders, were significantly younger, more often married, better educated, and had higher perceived health status, more knowledge about prostate cancer, and a more positive attitude towards screening. Information materials and invitation procedures were well accepted (high report marks and satisfaction, and 95% would attend for rescreening). A single prostate specific antigen determination was liked less than a combination of all three screening modalities. CONCLUSIONS: (1) The main reasons for attending are personal benefit and science, and those for not attending were absence of urological complaints and anticipated pain or discomfort; (2) knowledge, attitudes, and motives for attending are comparable with other screening programmes; hence, for population based prostate cancer screening, known health promotional aspects should be carefully considered; (3) prostate specific antigen, digital rectal examination and transrectal ultrasound are acceptable to attenders.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The assessment of crowding without the need to record arch perimeter. Part I: Arches with acceptable alignment.

A simplified, mathematically determined technique for calculating arch perimeter (the overlap method) is described and its validity in determining an accurate assessment of crowding is tested. Indices, expressed in millimetres of crowding or spacing, were computed for both the whole arch and the labial segment alone. Study casts of 36 individuals with clinically acceptable lower arches were used to validate the method. The degree of crowding or spacing calculated was compared with a "clinical' assessment of each arch, in which the irregularity was measured directly using a steel ruler. Various calculation schemes were tested. Depending on exactly how the overlap was determined, the results varied slightly. Although the arches showed acceptable alignment, it was preferable to include a strategy for normalizing the positions of any rotated teeth before the overlaps were calculated. Repositioning any bucco-lingually displaced teeth into the line of the arch, however, was not useful. For the complete arch good agreement with the clinical assessment was reached on 31 occasions and for the labial segment, all but one appraisals were within 0.5 mm of each other. In the remaining instances (five complete arches and one labial segment), the degree of crowding or spacing was between 0.5 and 1 mm of the clinical assessment. Considering that clinical measurement of minor degrees of crowding and spacing cannot be precise, these results were considered acceptable. The method was easy to use, relying only on the recording of mesio-distal tooth widths and was acceptably reproducible. The technique would therefore appear to provide a valid yet simple research tool with which to record the degree of crowding. Its ability to cope with irregular and crowded arches will be the subject of a subsequent review.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2006

The acceptability and impact of a randomised controlled trial of welfare rights advice accessed via primary health care: qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Qualitative research is increasingly used alongside randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to study a range of factors including participants' experiences of a trial. The need for a sound evidence base within public health will increase the need for RCTs of non-clinical interventions. Welfare rights advice has been proposed as an intervention with potential to reduce health inequalities. This qualitative study, nested within an RCT of the impact of welfare rights advice, examined the acceptability of the intervention, the acceptability of the research process and the perceived impact of the intervention. METHODS: 25 men and women aged 60 years or over were recruited from four general practices in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK), a sub-sample of those who consented to be contacted (n = 96) during the RCT baseline interview. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken and analysed using the Framework Method. RESULTS: Participants viewed the trial positively although, despite agreeing that the information leaflet was clear, some had agreed to participate without being fully aware of what was involved. Some participants were unaware of the implications of randomisation. Most thought it fair, but a few concerns were raised about the control condition. The intervention was acceptable and made participants feel confident about applying for benefit entitlements. 14 out of 25 participants received some financial award; median weekly income gain was pounds 57 (Euro 84, dollar 101). The perceived impact of additional finances was considerable and included: increased affordability of necessities and occasional expenses; increased capacity to deal with emergencies; and a reduction in stress related to financial worries. Overall, perceived independence and ability to participate in society increased. Most participants perceived benefits to their mental well-being, but no-one reported an improvement in physical health. The RCT showed little or no effect on a wide range of outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Participation in the trial and the intervention was acceptable to participants. Welfare rights advice targeted at people aged 60 years or over and accessed via primary care had a positive impact on quality of life and resulted in increased social participation. The divergence of qualitative and quantitative findings suggests that both methods make important contributions to the evaluation of complex social interventions.

Aged↗
PubMed1980

Effects of "favorability" and type of assessment device upon acceptance of general personality interpretations.

College students' acceptance of general personality interpretations was evaluated as a function of type of test and assessment device employed and interpretation favorability. Unlike previous studies, only interpretation favorability influenced acceptance. The effect of interpretation favorability upon acceptance, however, was shown to be due to the higher base-rate accuracy of favorable, relative to unfavorable, interpretations. It was concluded that the universal validity of general interpretations may supersede the effects of situational factors upon acceptance.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

The diagnostic acceptability of low-bandwidth transmission for tele-ultrasound.

Ultrasound recordings were made of 100 consecutive patients attending for obstetric examination in Peterhead and 100 patients attending for non-obstetric examination in Aberdeen. Two identical video-conferencing machines were used to transmit and receive the original ultrasound images at data rates of 384 kbit/s and 128 kbit/s, thus producing a total of three tapes for each case. Four experienced observers, who were blinded to the transmission bandwidth, each viewed 300 examinations and decided whether the images were acceptable or not for diagnosis. Almost 100% of the obstetric ultrasound images on the original recordings were considered diagnostically acceptable, compared with 93% of the 384 kbit/s transmissions and 44% of the 128 kbit/s transmissions. Similarly, 99% of the non-obstetric ultrasound images were considered acceptable, compared with 87% of the 384 kbit/s transmissions and 21% of the 128 kbit/s transmissions. For the obstetric ultrasound images the intra-observer diagnostic agreement was 93% (kappa = 0.89) between the original and the 384 kbit/s transmissions, and 78% (kappa = 0.63) between the original and the 128 kbit/s transmissions. For the non-obstetric ultrasound images the respective intra-observer diagnostic agreements were 77% (kappa = 0.62) and 78% (kappa = 0.63). The quality of dynamic ultrasound images transmitted at 384 kbit/s was diagnostically acceptable, but was unsatisfactory at 128 kbit/s.

Female↗