Patients' perceptions of home-based imaging diagnostics: A qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare accessibility
• Medical imaging
• Patient experience

Background:

• Home-based imaging expands healthcare access by reducing patient travel barriers.
• Patient acceptance is crucial for the viability of portable diagnostic equipment.
• Limited literature exists on patient perceptions of home imaging across various exam types.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess patient perceptions of home-based diagnostic imaging services.
• To identify key factors influencing patient acceptance and satisfaction with in-home diagnostics.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative interview study with 34 patients and proxies who underwent home-based imaging.
• Interviews conducted via phone, analyzed using inductive analysis.
• Explored aspects like convenience, reliability, quality of care, and concerns.

Main Results:

• Predominantly positive perceptions, highlighting convenience and quality of care.
• Patients expressed confidence in exam accuracy and equipment quality.
• Concerns included safety fears, need for faster results, and infrastructure limitations.

Conclusions:

• Home-based imaging is a valuable healthcare strategy with high patient satisfaction.
• Addressing patient concerns is vital for improving operational strategies and policy development.
• Findings support enhancing public policy and service management for broader implementation.