Patients' perceptions and attitude towards MRI safety in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

Magbool Alelyani; Moawia Gameraddin; Azah Alasmari; Fay Alshahrani; Nada Alqahtani; Alamin Musa

doi:10.2147/PPA.S309186

Patients' perceptions and attitude towards MRI safety in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

Patient Prefer Adherence. 2021 May 21:15:1075-1081. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S309186. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Magbool Alelyani¹, Moawia Gameraddin², Azah Alasmari¹, Fay Alshahrani¹, Nada Alqahtani¹, Alamin Musa¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiological Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia.
² Department of Diagnostic Radiologic Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Almadinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the knowledge and attitudes of Saudi patients toward the safety of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 142 Saudi patients at King Khalid hospital, Asir, Saudi Arabia. Data were collected using a self-questionnaire based on MRI safety issues gained from the literature. The questionnaire was divided into two sections, one containing the respondents' sociodemographic information and the other assessing their knowledge and attitudes toward participating in MRI.

Results: A total of 142 patients responded to the survey, and their average age was 31.5 ± 4 years. The majority were married and held a bachelor's degree. The mean knowledge score regarding MRI safety was 0.29 ± 0.25, which reflects poor knowledge, whereas the attitude score was 0.67 ± 0.20, reflecting a moderately positive attitude. Awareness and attitude among patients improved as education levels increased. Finally, only 53.5% of the respondents were aware of the noise produced by the MRI scanner.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the awareness of MRI safety among patients in the Asir Region is poor, although they showed positive attitudes toward the issue. Thus, education is necessary for patients to improve awareness of MRI safety to facilitate MRI examinations, which will help decrease scan time and image artefacts.

Keywords: MRI safety; attitudes; awareness; patients; perceptions.

Grants and funding

The authors extend their appreciation for funds provided by the deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University through grant number GRP-232-40.