Janet M. Busey MS, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Laurie A Soine PhD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Jenine Yager, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

James Caldwell MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, General Electric Company Research Consultant, Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc

William Phelps Shuman MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research grant, General Electric Company

To survey knowledge and perceptions about radiation in patients presenting for computed tomographic (CT) and SPECT stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).

Over a continuous 4-week period early in 2011, 72 randomly selected patients presenting to a large academic medical center for a clinically indicated outpatient non-urgent CT or SPECT stress MPI completed a 22-item multiple-choice survey immediately prior to imaging. The survey measured knowledge and perceptions about radiation from diagnostic imaging. Demographic, scan, and dose information was obtained from medical records. Descriptive data analysis was performed.

The survey was completed by 42 CT and 30 SPECT patients (49 males; mean age, 55 ± 13 years, range 21-75). Nineteen patients (26%) recalled hearing media accounts of radiation associated with medical imaging in the last year. Sixty-seven patients (93%) reported that it was important to be informed of the risks of imaging. The referring provider was identified as the main source of health information by fifty-two patients (72%). Twenty-two patients (31%) did not know their scan involved exposure to radiation. Of those patients that did know, only 40% recalled the ordering provider mentioning the exposure. When provided information that all people are exposed to a small amount of natural background radiation each year, 76% of patients inaccurately estimated how the amount of radiation from their scan compared to background radiation (44% markedly underestimated the exposure, 23% reported not knowing). Most patients (98%) were not worried about radiation from the scan; 4% believed that the radiation would increase their lifetime risk of cancer.

In a randomly selected sample of 72 patients undergoing CT and SPECT, survey results suggest that patients wish to be informed of the risks of imaging; however most patients have inaccurate knowledge and unrealistic perceptions about radiation exposure.

There is substantial opportunity for radiology providers to improve the current low levels of patient knowledge and unrealistic perceptions about radiation from diagnostic imaging.  

Busey, J, Soine, L, Yager, J, Caldwell, J, Shuman, W, Patient Knowledge and Perceptions about Radiation from Diagnostic Imaging.  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11009594.html