Lighting assessment of ergonomic workstation for radio diagnostic reporting

Within the diagnostic process, in the activities in which digital radiology systems are utilised, image display devices play a very important role. Such devices have to guarantee high performances in order to maintain the diagnostic quality of the displayed images and present them so that they can be observed optimally. In order to ensure the appropriate performance to the users, not only the image display device but also the whole workstation should be designed properly. Particular attention should be paid to the lighting conditions, to avoid compromising the radiologist's ability to observe the displayed images. The aim of this study is to assess the lighting of some workstations used for diagnostic radiology reporting, in order to obtain information about the visual interaction between worker and device and prevent health risks. A detailed analysis of the lighting of adjustable and nonadjustable workstations used for diagnostic radiology reporting was carried out in different rooms of the Radiology Department at the Felice Lotti Hospital in Pontedera (Pisa, Italy). The analysis was carried out thanks to in situ measurements (objective analysis) and the submission of an evaluation questionnaire to a sample composed by 16 radiologists (subjective analysis). From the obtained results it has been possible to point out that, in nonadjustable workstations the absence of a dedicated lighting system very often reveals the inadequacy of the general lighting in guaranteeing correct lighting conditions for the radiologists during the reading of the diagnostic monitors. As measure to reduce the visual fatigue of the radiologists, the use of a supplementary adjustable innovative LED backlight system was proposed. The use of the LED backlight system allows complying the requirements of the Technical Standards and mitigate the difference of luminance in the field of view of the radiologist. Due to that the use of the LED backlight system has been positively perceived by the examined sample, a significant part of whom has ascribed to this use a reduction in the visual fatigue. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.