Patient experiences of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain and their views on diagnostic shoulder imaging: a...

To explore patient experiences of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain, and their views on the role and value of diagnostic shoulder imaging.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients with shoulder pain exploring the impact and management of their shoulder condition, reasons for and experiences of diagnostic imaging, and feelings about and responses to diagnostic imaging findings. Framework analysis was used to analyse the dataset.

Five themes were identified [1]: Lived experience and beliefs about pain and movement [2]; Contextualisation of imaging findings by health professionals is more important than the imaging report [3]; Factors influencing whether and when to have imaging [4]; Imaging can identify the actual problem and guide treatment; and [5] Treatment responses and treatment decision making.

Patients commonly believe imaging is needed to formulate a diagnosis. There was minimal concern about potential indirect harms that could arise (e.g., inappropriate diagnosis leading to unnecessary treatments). The context of the diagnostic imaging reports (i.e., what needed to be done) was perceived as more important than the exact meaning of the imaging findings. Patients felt that the diagnostic imaging confirmed their existing biomedical beliefs, and these beliefs were not challenged by their healthcare professionals.