Pre-procedural disclosure of potential diagnostic errors in radiology: public perspectives in the Netherlands

To assess public attitudes toward prospective disclosure of diagnostic error risk in radiologic imaging (i.e., informing patients in advance about the possibility a radiologic examination may yield an incorrect finding, rather than disclosure of an error after it has occurred) and to identify factors influencing these preferences.

A population-based survey was conducted in the Netherlands. Participants aged ≥ 18 years (n = 1524) responded to CT-scan vignettes describing pre-procedural potential diagnostic errors, varying by patient age (9, 26, 46, or 71 years) and probability of incorrect findings (< 0.1%, < 1%, < 5%, or unspecified). For case vignettes involving 9-year-old patients, participants responded as parents/guardians. Agreement with "I would want to be informed" was measured using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = agree, 4 = strongly agree).

Overall, 88.4% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that patients should be informed about the risk of diagnostic errors. Patient age and diagnostic error risk significantly influenced agreement. Compared with vignettes describing a 71-year-old patient, younger patient ages were associated with higher odds of agreement (9-year-old OR 4.023, p = 0.010; 26-year-old OR 3.222, p = 0.019; 46-year-old OR 2.659, p = 0.022). Compared with vignettes in which diagnostic error risk was unspecified, specifying risks of < 0.1% or < 1% was associated with lower odds of agreement (< 0.1% risk: OR 0.476, p < 0.001; < 1% risk: OR 0.635, p = 0.002), whereas a < 5% risk was not (OR 0.876, p = 0.360).

Public support for prospective disclosure of diagnostic error risk in radiologic imaging is high in the Dutch population, particularly for younger patients and higher-risk scenarios.

Question Most adults in the Netherlands support disclosure of diagnostic error risk in radiologic imaging, particularly for younger patients and higher-risk scenarios. Findings Public preferences for disclosure are driven by patient age and error probability, rather than participant demographics or prior radiology experience. Clinical relevance Public support for disclosure of diagnostic error risk in radiologic imaging is high in the Dutch population, especially for younger patients and higher-risk scenarios.