Gelareh Sadigh MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Kimberly E. Applegate MD, MS, Abstract Co-Author: Co-editor, Springer Science+Business Media Deutschland GmbH Advisory Board, WellPoint, Inc

Timothy W. Ng MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Kamilah Hendrix MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Srini Tridandapani PhD, MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mislabeled imaging studies can lead to serious consequences for pediatric patients and their families due to misdiagnosis and inappropriate therapy. Integrating pediatric patients' digital photographs with medical imaging may increase the detection of mislabeled studies. However, photographic IDs also raise concerns about patient privacy and whether this technology will be accepted by the public. The purpose of this study was to determine how the parents and guardians of pediatric patients would receive this novel technology.

Over a two-month period in 2014, parents and guardians of patients were asked to complete a 13-question survey in the ambulatory waiting room of a Children's Hospital radiology department. The parents’ anticipated perception about the use of patients’ photograph with medical imaging in different clinical scenarios was investigated and its predictors were determined using logistic regression analysis.

498/600 parents responded to the survey (response rate 83%). 86% were female (mean age 37 years). 77% had more than high school diploma. 51% had > $50,000 annual household income. Mean age of respondents’ child was 7 years. 96% and 97% of parents supported the use of a photo ID, if it improves the radiologist’s imaging interpretation, or decreases the rate of mislabeled errors, respectively. A minority of respondents (38%) were worried that obtaining their child’s photo would impact his/her privacy. 94% believed that they should be asked for their consent prior to obtaining their child’s photo. 90%, 91% and 92% of parents supported the new technology if their child was slightly sick (outpatient), brought into the emergency department after trauma, or hospitalized in an intensive care unit, respectively. After adjusting for independent covariates, Caucasian parents were less worried about the impact of the new technology on child’s privacy compared to other ethnicities (P=0.009). Parents older than 45 years of age were less supportive of the technology in outpatient setting (P=0.02).

The vast majority (96%) of parents support integrating their child’s photograph with imaging studies in order to improve safety and believe that consent should be obtained.

Integrating patients’ digital photographs with medical imaging studies is socially acceptable to patients.

Sadigh, G, Applegate, K, Ng, T, Hendrix, K, Tridandapani, S, Determining Social Acceptance with the Use of Patients’ Photographs Integrated with Medical Imaging Studies to Reduce Wrong Patient Errors.  Radiological Society of North America 2014 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, - ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2014/14004094.html