https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87340 2026-04-25T18:20:59Z 2026-04-25T18:20:59Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87360 2022-01-21T06:34:32Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: An evaluation of the constancy testing programme for medical imaging devices at a major public hospital in Malta : a medical physics perspective Abstract: Background: Medical Physics is a young profession in Malta and the constancy testing programme at the major public hospital under study, younger still. It was therefore felt necessary that a strategic evaluation of the present state of the programme be carried out. Objectives: The objectives of the study were: (a) To identify standards regarding the structure and management of constancy testing programmes for imaging devices in major public hospitals. (b) To develop a vision statement for the constancy testing programme which complies with the identified standards and with the role of the hospital within Maltese society and healthcare system. (c) To carry out a SWOT analysis to evaluate the current programme. (d) To provide recommendations for improvement in terms of a list of suggested strategic planning objectives. Research Methodology: A qualitative research approach with a pragmatic philosophical perspective was adopted. Qualitative data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews with the Medical Physics professionals practicing in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, on-site observations at the hospital concerned and document analysis. The interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analysed using NVivo software. SWOT themes were elicited from the qualitative data using thematic analysis. Results: A vision statement for the programme was developed and internal strengths and weaknesses along with external opportunities and threats of the present constancy testing programme at the hospital under study were identified. Conclusions and Recommendations: The current programme has many strengths but also several weaknesses, mainly derived from the profession being so young in Malta. Fortunately, several opportunities for programme improvement are available. Nonetheless, some threats do exist. Strategic objectives for programme improvement were proposed. By keeping patient service in mind and taking strategic management approaches, continuous quality improvement of the constancy testing programme is assured. Description: M.Sc. Med.Phy.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87354 2022-01-21T06:33:45Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Spatial changes in local activation in patients on the autism spectrum using resting state BOLD fMRI and T1w images Abstract: Background: The pursuit for determining and analyzing circumscribed brain regions, or parcels, has been of major interest for neuroscientists since the late 19th century with increasingly prevalent research that was carried out in the field, particularly by Brodmann and his advances in cytoarchitecture. The recently proposed "Vogt-Bailey Index" was introduced as a metric of the smoothness of cortical feature boundaries in the human brain. Objective: In this project, we aim to quantify the changes in local functional boundaries within the brains of young patients having Autism Spectrum Disorder and compare them to healthy control subjects using this metric. This provides a means to explore the differences in brain functional architecture and can lead to new understanding of the cortical structure of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research Design: A comparative quantitative research approach was adopted for this project in order to statistically compare the variability between these two groups using the Aspin-Welch test with the Permutation Analysis for Linear Models tool. The results are then contrasted to a similar existing technique that studies local functional connectivity in the human brain called Regional Homogeneity. Results: The results showed a higher brain activity for patients in the regions responsible for effective processing and executive function, planning and sensitivity to sequential action. They showed lower brain activity in regions responsible for visual, auditory, language, sensory, motor signal, parasympathetic and sympathetic processing. Conclusions and Recommendations: The application of the tool was therefore seen as successful in identifying higher- and lower-activity regions of the brain that are aligned with the common symptoms in Autism Spectrum Disorder patients when compared to healthy control subjects. For future research, we recommend the use local data from local health institutions for a more accurate representation of our national patients, together with using different covariates of no interest, increasing the data size and possibly examining other psychiatric disorders of the nervous system. We also recommend amending the tools to output numerical results so that a statistical comparison between tools can be made. For professional practice, we recommend improving the methods to reduce patient movement and motion artifacts while also reduce scanning time without compromising heavily on image quality. Description: M.Sc. Med.Phy.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/87346 2022-01-21T06:29:23Z 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: A comparative study of internationally used constancy testing protocols for medical imaging devices Abstract: Background: One of the difficulties confronted by medical physicists is the variability in constancy testing protocols and acceptable tolerances promoted by different international standard setting and Medical Physics professional organizations around the world. Objectives: This project compared protocols and tolerances from different organizations focussing on their similarities, differences, and relative strengths and weaknesses. Methodology: The methodology that was used in this study is a comparative qualitative documentary thematic analysis of constancy testing protocols published by the IEC, EU Commission, IAEA, IPEM, AAPM and ACR. The thematic categories and labels that were analysed were: Document Metadata (Document Number, Recency, Price of Document), Equipment used in the constancy testing (Equipment required, Expense of the Equipment, Ease of Availability), Measurement protocol for constancy testing (Professional Performing the Test, Level of Complexity), Test Frequency and Tolerance Limits. Results: The results from the data collection were presented in four comparative thematic template tables, one for each modality considered in the study (Digital Radiography, Mammography, Fluoroscopy, Computed Tomography). Conclusions and Recommendations: From this study, the main conclusion that was drawn was that there isn’t one specific organization that publishes suitable constancy testing protocols for all the selected imaging modalities and that one often needs to take good practice elements from more than one organization when setting up own protocols. Recommendations for specific imaging modalities were put forward. Description: M.Sc. Med.Phy.(Melit.)

2021-01-01T00:00:00Z