Factors influencing patient understanding of information on radiology examinations.

PURPOSE: To determine which factors influence patient understanding of information documents on radiology examinations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a randomized prospective study with 361 consecutive patients. Documents with information on 9 radiology exams were obtained ( www.radiologyinfo.org ). Three versions of each of these were written at low (below 7th grade), middle (8-12th grade), and high (college) reading grades. Before their scheduled radiology exam, patients were randomized to read one document. Their subjective and objective understanding of the information was assessed. Statistics including logistic regression used to assess relationships between demographic factors and document grade level and understanding. RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent (100/361) of patients completed the study. More females vs. males (85% vs. 66%) read their entire document (p = 0.042). Document grade level was not associated with understanding (p > 0.05). Correlation between college degrees and subjective understanding was positive (r = 0.234, p = 0.019). More females (74% vs. 54%, p = 0.047) and patients with college degrees (72% vs. 48%, p = 0.034) had higher objective understanding. Controlling for document grade level and demographics, patients with college degrees were more likely to have subjective understanding of at least half of the document (OR 7.97, 95% CI [1.24, 51.34], p = 0.029) and females were more likely to have higher objective understanding (OR 2.65, 95% CI [1.06, 6.62], p = 0.037). CONCLUSION: Patients with college degrees understood more on information documents. Females read more of the documents than males and had a higher objective understanding. Reading grade level did not affect understanding.

Identifying Factors Important to Patients for Resuming Elective Imaging During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

PURPOSE: To identify factors important to patients for their return to elective imaging during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: In all, 249 patients had elective MRIs postponed from March 23, 2020, to April 24, 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these patients, 99 completed a 22-question survey about living arrangement and health care follow-up, effect of imaging postponement, safety of imaging, and factors important for elective imaging. Mann-Whitney U, Fisher's exact, χ2 tests, and logistic regression analyses were performed. Statistical significance was set to P ≤ .05 with Bonferroni correction applied. RESULTS: Overall, 68% of patients felt imaging postponement had no impact or a small impact on health, 68% felt it was fairly or extremely safe to obtain imaging, and 53% thought there was no difference in safety between hospital-based and outpatient locations. Patients who already had imaging performed or rescheduled were more likely to feel it was safe to get an MRI (odds ratio [OR] 3.267, P = .028) and that the hospital setting was safe (OR 3.976, P = .004). Staff friendliness was the most important factor related to an imaging center visit (95% fairly or extremely important). Use of masks by staff was the top infection prevention measure (94% fairly or extremely important). Likelihood of rescheduling imaging decreased if a short waiting time was important (OR = 0.107, P = .030). CONCLUSION: As patients begin to feel that it is safe to obtain imaging examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, many factors important to their imaging experience can be considered by radiology practices when developing new strategies to conduct elective imaging.