Training health professionals in patient-centered communication during magnetic resonance imaging to reduce patients' perceived anxiety

We examined how a patient-centered communication training program for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) affected health professional (HP) practice and patients' perceived anxiety (PA).

We implemented an intervention program. Six of the 17 eligible HPs completed the study. The proportion of observed desired behaviors (PODBs), including MRI procedure explanation (MRI-PE), communication, and MRI checking procedures was measured using an observation grid. We tested 182 patients (85 pre-, 58 post-, and 39 at follow-up) for PA pre- and post-MRI.

The Bayesian ANOVA effect size suggested moderate evidence of improvement in HP PODBs, pre- to post-intervention. Use of MRI-PE declined between post-intervention and follow-up (6 months later). Observed changes in PA, pre- to post-MRI, could be related to time constraints and perceived pressure to explain the exam in detail once institutional routines are reestablished.

In MRI units, time constraints condition the performance of HPs who address patients' PA.

"Real workplace" interventions that promote better patient-centered communication and provide each patient with a comprehensive explanation of MRI procedures also appear to improve HP PODBs.