Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40125877›Full record

ArticleInternal medicine journal2025

Utilisation of mobile X-ray services by residents of long-term care facilities.

Maria C Inacio, Robert N Jorissen, Virginie Gaget, David R Tivey, Joanne Dollard, Renuka Visvanathan, Guy J Maddern

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Internal medicine journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Maria C InacioRegistry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8261-2665
Robert N JorissenRegistry of Senior Australians, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Virginie GagetDiscipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, Australia.
David R TiveyDiscipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, Australia.
Joanne DollardAdelaide Geriatrics Training and Research with Aged Care Centre (GTRAC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Renuka VisvanathanAdelaide Geriatrics Training and Research with Aged Care Centre (GTRAC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Guy J MaddernDiscipline of Surgery, University of Adelaide, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woodville, South Australia, Australia.

Funding

Medical Research Future Fund GNT1183855National Health and Medical Research Council GNT119378
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccess to mobile X-ray imaging (MXR) by long-term care facility (LTCF) residents could potentially reduce emergency department transfers. To encourage MXR use, the Australian Government Medicare Benefits Schedule introduced an MXR service subsidy in November 2019.

aimsTo examine the (i) MXR utilisation rate in LTCFs between 1 November 2019 and 30 June 2020; and (ii) individual and LTCF characteristics associated with accessing MXR compared to community-based X-rays.

methodsA cross-sectional study of non-indigenous LTCF residents, ≥65 years old, between 1 November 2019 and 30 June 2020 in five geographical regions was conducted. Access to mobile and community-based X-rays was the outcome of interest. Descriptive statistics and monthly sex- and age-standardised utilisation rates were employed. Characteristics associated with the X-ray type accessed were estimated using generalised estimating equation logistic regression models.

results149 389 LTCF episodes, by 127 002 individuals, in 1449 facilities were studied. The median age of the studied individuals was 85 years (interquartile range 79-90) and 63.4% (n = 94 692) were women. There were 5458 (3.7%) episodes that accessed an MXR service. MXR usage increased 75%, from 6.6/1000 (95% confidence interval (CI) 6.1-7.2) to 11.6/1000 (95% CI 10.9-12.3) person-months over the study period. Compared to community-based X-ray recipients, MXR recipients were older, more likely to have dementia, but less likely to have a higher number of health conditions, be in transition or respite care, be in a not-for-profit LTCF and be outside a major city.

conclusionsA small but increasing use of government-subsidised MXR services was observed. Individuals accessing MXRs are those that likely benefit most from them. LTCF differences in service utilisation indicate gaps in service access.

Indexed as

Long-Term CareMobile Health UnitsNursing HomesRadiographyAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Services AccessibilityHumansMalePortable X-Raydiagnostic imagingmobile health unitnursing homeresidential facilityX‐ray

Identifiers

PMID40125877
PMCPMC12155079

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.