SSM11-04

A Contemporary Survey of Patient and Referring Physician Preferences for Direct Radiologic Reporting of Results

Wednesday 3:30-3:40 PM | SSM11-04 | Room: S403B
 
PARTICIPANTS:
Janice Thai, MD (Presenter)
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
Raina Josemon, BS
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
Shrita Smith, MD
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
Jose Morey, MD
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
Arnold Brenner, DO
Disclosure: Nothing to Disclose
CITE THIS ABSTRACT
PURPOSE
To identify contemporary preferences of patients and referring physicians for direct patient communication and notification of results by the radiologist.
RESULTS
368 patients completed the survey (39.9% male and 60.1% female). 168 referring physician surveys were completed [surgery (16.7%), pediatrics (18.6%), internal medicine (38.5%), emergency medicine (4.3%), obstetrics and gynecology (7.4%), and other (14.3%)]. Patient preference: 81.5% of patient responders preferred all results communicated from the radiologist within the same day. 65.9% of patients preferred same day results - if normal vs 65.8% if abnormal. 34.5% preferred to wait and review normal results with the referring physician. 41.5% preferred to wait and review abnormal results with the referring physician. It was found that patients were more likely to strongly agree with waiting to review results with the referring physician if the results were abnormal, as opposed to normal (18.5% vs 11.9%, respectively; P < 0.0141). Physician preference: 36% of referring physicians preferred same day communication by the radiologist to the patient along with a report sent to their office. 12.4% preferred radiology reports to be sent to their office with a summary report sent to the patient. 59% preferred traditional communication with reports sent to their office. Conversely, 64% of physicians did not want results reviewed with their patients; 87.6% did not want a report sent to the patient by the radiologist, even after report was sent to their office.
CONCLUSION
58-82% of patients preferred same day radiologist communication of their results while 55-87.6% of physicians did not prefer same day radiologist communication of results directly with their patients. Our study examined and identified contemporary preferences of patients and their referring physicians regarding direct radiologic reporting of results. This could potentially impact the current movement in radiology towards a patient-centered care model by providing direct access to radiologic reports and direct communication of results by the radiologist.
METHODS
An anonymous survey was conducted between July 2017 and February 2018 of all patients undergoing radiologic imaging studies and their referring physicians. Two survey questionnaires were designed to examine patient and physician preferences for reporting of radiologic results. The surveys consisted of questions related to real time communication of results by the radiologist to the patient. The surveys elicited responses regarding preferences on a 5-point likert scale (Strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree and strongly agree), as well as indicated by responding yes or no to specific questions. All categorical variables were summarized using frequency counts and percentages. Comparisons between groups (Gender, age, medical specialty) with respect to responses to questions were analyzed using either the chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Kappa statistics and Bowker's test of symmetry were used to determine if there was agreement in response within a patient, when examination results were assumed to be 'normal' or 'abnormal'. All statistical tests were two-sided at the alpha=0.05 level of significance.