Benefit-risk communication in paediatric imaging: What do referring physicians, radiographers and radiologists think,
J L Portelli1, J P McNulty2, P Bezzina3
1Department of Radiography, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Radiography and Diagnostic Imaging, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
Insights
Healthcare providers often explain medical imaging purposes but less frequently discuss benefits and risks with pediatric patients. Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial for consistent, reassuring communication regarding pediatric imaging examinations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Pediatric Radiology
- Patient Communication
Background:
- Effective communication of benefit-risk information is vital for informed consent in pediatric medical imaging.
- Previous studies indicate variability in how healthcare professionals disclose this information.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess how referrers and practitioners disclose benefit-risk information for pediatric medical imaging.
- To gauge healthcare professionals' confidence and perceived responsibility in this disclosure process.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based study was conducted with radiographers, radiology practitioners, emergency physicians, and pediatricians.
- Data were collected from 266 healthcare professionals at a primary pediatric referral center, achieving a 63.2% response rate.
Main Results:
- Most professionals explained the imaging purpose, but fewer detailed benefit-risk information.
- Communication content and approach varied significantly.
- While 75% viewed disclosure as a shared responsibility, only 32.1% felt highly confident in their ability to do so.
Conclusions:
- Identified knowledge and skills gaps necessitate targeted interventions for healthcare professionals.
- Developing a consensus document is recommended to guide discussions on pediatric imaging benefits and risks.
- Ensuring adequate, reassuring, and consistent information for pediatric patients and guardians is paramount.
Introduction:
To assess how referrers and practitioners disclose benefit-risk information about medical imaging examinations to paediatric patients and their parents/guardians; to gauge their confidence in doing so; and to seek their opinion about who is responsible for disclosing such information.
Methods:
This study followed on from a previously published study, with a questionnaire distributed in staggered phases to 146 radiographers, 22 radiology practitioners, 55 emergency physicians and 43 paediatricians at a primary paediatric referral centre in Malta. The questionnaire sought details about referrers' and practitioners' practice of disclosing benefit-risk information, as well as their opinion about their confidence and responsibility to do so.
Results:
An overall response rate of 63.2% (168/266) was achieved. Most referrers and practitioners would generally explain the purpose of the imaging examination, with fewer providing benefit-risk information. The content and the approach adopted to communicate benefit-risk information varied, at times considerably. While 75% (123/164) felt that the responsibility to provide benefit-risk information was a shared one between referrers and practitioners, only 32.1% (53/165) reported a high level of confidence in their own ability to do so.
Conclusions:
Our findings highlight potential knowledge and skills gaps amongst local referrers and practitioners. This needs addressing so as to ensure that paediatric patients and their parents/guardians are provided with adequate, reassuring and consistent information. Additionally, we recommend that local referrers and practitioners come together and develop a consensus document that can offer guidance on how to go about discussing the benefits and risks of paediatric imaging examinations.
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