Impact of Long-Axial-Field-of-View PET/CT Workflow on the Patient Experience

Long-axial-field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT scanners (>1 m axial field of view) provide an order-of-magnitude improvement in system sensitivity compared with conventional PET/CT systems, allowing clinicians to optimize scan protocols in terms of acquisition time, injected activity, and image quality. However, implementing these optimizations requires workflow changes, which may affect the patient experience and the quality of care provided. This study aims to contextualize the workflow changes for patients while comparing their experiences after a transition from conventional to LAFOV PET/CT at a metropolitan hospital. Methods: Patient movement through a conventional PET/CT facility was observed for 1 working week. This was repeated 1 mo after transitioning to the LAFOV PET/CT system. The median times that patients spent in the uptake room, camera room, hallway, and toilet were compared. Additionally, a separate cohort of patients was invited to participate in a short survey regarding their experience during their PET/CT procedure. The same survey was provided to both cohorts. The questions used a 5-point Likert scale to assess patient concerns, physical discomforts, and perceptions of staff care. In total, 108 and 105 responses were collected for the conventional and LAFOV PET/CT cohorts, respectively. Results: Patients who were scanned using the LAFOV PET/CT system spent significantly less time in the camera room and the uptake room (after injection and when including time waiting before injection). There was a significant reduction in the number of participants who felt that the scan was too long, were concerned about the radiation involved, were anxious, or reported feeling uncomfortable after transitioning to a LAFOV PET/CT system. No significant differences were observed between the 2 cohorts regarding their perceptions of the level of staff preparation and care provided or physical discomforts experienced, including claustrophobia. Conclusion: Transitioning from a conventional to LAFOV PET/CT system reduced the time patients were required to remain stationary during the scan and resulted in decreased patient concerns. There was no evidence of a difference in the levels of physical discomfort, such as claustrophobia, experienced by the 2 cohorts despite the increased length of the gantry bore.