Disclosure of Imaging findigns to Patients Directly by Radiolgists: A Survey of Patients' Preferences

ABSTRACT

"The purpose of this study was to determine if patients prefer to hear results of their imaging findings directly from the Radiologist soon after the examination or if they prefer to be told later by their referring clinicians or not to be told at all by either party. Subjects and methods: A simple questionnaire was adminsitered to and answered by 192 consecutive patients seen in the Radiology Department of Mulago Hospital over a 10 day period. These were to udnergo various examinations namely CT; conventional radiography; ultrasound and mammography. Patients were asked if they wanted the Radiologists to disclose results to them or if they would prefer to ehar the results from their referring clinician. Results: Analysis of the 192 questionnaires disclose that 91patients wanted the Radiologist to voluntarily tell them if the results were normal. An additional 1wanted to hear the results but only if they inquired for them. If the results are abnormal (e.g. cancer); 87wanted the Radiologist to voluntarily tell them. An additional 0.5answered ""yes""; but only if they asked for the results. forty one percent (41) preferred to hear the results from their referring clinicians; while 52did not. Conclusion: the prupose of this study was to determine if patients prefer to have Radiologists directly disclose to them their imaging findings immediately after the examination or if they prefer to hear the results later from their referring clinician; regardless of whether the findings are normal or abnormal."