Validation and benchmarking of Patient-Reported Experience Measures (PREM) tool for the safety of patients undergoing

Jawahar S K Pillai1,2, Lallu Joseph3, Biswajeevan Sahoo4

  • 1Hospital Administration, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India jawahardr@yahoo.com.

BMJ Open Quality
|January 30, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

A new MRI Safety Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM) tool was developed to gather patient feedback on safety protocols. This zero-cost tool enhances patient safety and quality of care during MRI scans.

Area of Science:

  • Radiology and Imaging
  • Patient Safety
  • Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) poses risks to patients with metallic implants due to strong magnetic fields.
  • Ensuring patient safety requires thorough screening for metallic implants before MRI procedures.
  • Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM) tools can assess the quality of care and identify safety gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a context-specific Patient-Reported Experience Measure (PREM) tool for MRI safety.
  • To gather constructive patient feedback to improve MRI safety protocols.
  • To validate the developed PREM tool for use in clinical settings.

Main Methods:

  • Phase 1: Expert group formation and focus group discussions (FGDs) to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and the PREM questionnaire.
  • Phase 2 & 3: A multiphasic study conducted in 15 hospitals across India.
  • Pilot study (n=213) and field study (n=720) using the developed PREM tool.

Main Results:

  • A 21-question MRI Safety PREM tool was developed, demonstrating excellent internal consistency and high reliability.
  • High participant agreement (99-100%) on removing metallic devices before MRI scans.
  • Identified areas for improvement include metal detector screening, allergy counseling, contrast agent side effects, claustrophobia management, and emergency communication.

Conclusions:

  • The MRI Safety PREM tool is a validated, zero-cost patient safety instrument.
  • The tool was accepted by study participants as vital for ensuring patient safety and enhancing care quality during MRI.
  • Patient feedback via the PREM tool highlights the need for enhanced safety practices in MRI environments.

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