ABSTRACT
Introduction: Dynamic Chest Radiography (DCR) is a novel imaging modality. Studies show correlation between DCR measurements and Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs) (Hino, T et al. ERJ Open. 2020;7). Patient acceptability of DCR requires assessment if it is to be used as an adjunct or replacement for PFTs. Method(s): Patients with recent PFTs attended for posteroanterior (PA) and lateral DCR, carried out over 10-15 seconds, during which tidal breathing was followed by a single breath at maximal inspiration/expiration. Patients rated DCR acceptability on a 10 point visual analogue scale. PFTs from 2016 onwards were assessed for physiologist references to patient difficulties and highest technical grade where applicable - these served as a proxy marker for PFT acceptability. Result(s): Among 40 patients with respiratory pathology or previous CoVid-19 infection, acceptability of DCR was rated as 9.7. 37.5% of participants had recorded difficulties during previous PFTs, most commonly cough, anxiety, or poor respiratory effort. Of the 20 participants who had previously completed spirometry, only 40% were able to achieve the highest grading. Conclusion(s): DCR demonstrated excellent acceptability among this cohort. This was compared to a high rate of difficulty and a low rate of technical excellence with PFTs. This suggests DCR would be acceptable to patients as a future adjunct to or replacement of PFTs.