Common Reasons for Chest X-ray Examinations in Hospitals: Understanding Causes, Diagnoses,and Raising Awareness in Dhaka, Bangladesh

This research, “Reasons for Hospital Visits for Chest X-rays: Causes, Diagnoses, and Awareness Initiatives in Dhaka City, Bangladesh,” seeks to analyse causes for chest X-ray referrals, diagnostic findings, and assess the level of public awareness about chest X-rays and radiation risks. The research was carried out over a period of six months in five private hospitals in Dhaka, adopting a descriptive cross-sectional design. It involved 320 patients aged 16 years and above, up to more than 60 years, who had undergone chest X-rays. The information was obtained using structured questionnaires and reviews of medical records, where data on sociodemographic information, clinical symptoms, indications for chest X-rays, and awareness about radiation risks were collected. Results indicated that chronic cough was the most common reason for referral of chest X-rays (91.3%), followed by chest pain (44.7%) and breathlessness (20.3%). Nonetheless, 73.8% of the chest X-rays had no significant results, suggesting possible overuse or insufficient pre-diagnostic screening. The study also indicated poor public awareness, as only 1.6% of the respondents perceived there was adequate knowledge about chest X-rays. Access barriers for chest X-ray services were a lack of awareness, fear of diagnosis, and socioeconomic characteristics like unemployment and low education. The results emphasize the necessity of more targeted chest X-ray utilization, public health education, and interventions to increase accessibility and awareness. Facilitating community-level education and media campaigns may enhance public knowledge and proper utilization of chest X-rays in Dhaka. The research emphasizes the need to fill these gaps in order to maximize the utilization of chest X-ray services, limit unnecessary procedures, and augment healthcare outcomes. Further studies should evaluate the effect of suggested awareness programs and interventions to increase the effectiveness of chest X-ray utilization in urban areas.