Benefit-risk communication in paediatric imaging: What do referring physicians, radiographers and radiologists think, say and do?

Abstract

Introduction: To assess how referrers and practitioners disclose benefit-risk information about medical imaging examinations to paediatric patients and their parents/guardians; to gauge their confidence in doing so; and to seek their opinion about who is responsible for disclosing such information.

Methods: This study followed on from a previously published study, with a questionnaire distributed in staggered phases to 146 radiographers, 22 radiology practitioners, 55 emergency physicians and 43 paediatricians at a primary paediatric referral centre in Malta. The questionnaire sought details about referrers' and practitioners' practice of disclosing benefit-risk information, as well as their opinion about their confidence and responsibility to do so.

Results: An overall response rate of 63.2% (168/266) was achieved. Most referrers and practitioners would generally explain the purpose of the imaging examination, with fewer providing benefit-risk information. The content and the approach adopted to communicate benefit-risk information varied, at times considerably. While 75% (123/164) felt that the responsibility to provide benefit-risk information was a shared one between referrers and practitioners, only 32.1% (53/165) reported a high level of confidence in their own ability to do so.

Conclusions: Our findings highlight potential knowledge and skills gaps amongst local referrers and practitioners. This needs addressing so as to ensure that paediatric patients and their parents/guardians are provided with adequate, reassuring and consistent information. Additionally, we recommend that local referrers and practitioners come together and develop a consensus document that can offer guidance on how to go about discussing the benefits and risks of paediatric imaging examinations.

Keywords: Benefit-risk communication; Doctor–patient interaction; Paediatric imaging; Patient information; Radiographer-patient interaction; Radiographers.