Emotional Harm in the Radiology Department: Analysis of an Underrecognized Preventable Error

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Emotional harm incidents in healthcare can erode trust and negatively impact outcomes.
• Research on emotional harm within radiology departments is limited.
• Understanding these incidents is crucial for improving patient and staff well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify contributors and scenarios of emotional harm in radiology.
• To document the frequency of such incidents.
• To develop strategies for preventing emotional harm in radiology settings.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of adverse event reports in radiology from December 2014 to December 2020.
• Categorization of incidents using a 14-category system.
• Root-cause analysis focused on identifying preventative countermeasures.

Main Results:

• 37 of 3032 radiology submissions (1.2%) detailed 43 dignity and respect incidents.
• Top incidents included failure to be patient-centered (54%) and disrespectful communication (37%).
• Patients were involved in 74% of incidents, staff in 26%, often due to poor communication.

Conclusions:

• Disrespectful communication and failure to prioritize patients are primary causes of emotional harm in radiology.
• Training in active listening, patient preferences, and closed-loop communication can address most incidents.
• Implementing these communication strategies can significantly reduce emotional harm.