Diagnostic CT: Are Patients Adequately Informed?

• 作者: Angela Brent Ewan O’Farrell John Coyne
• 来源期刊: 计算机断层扫描(英文)
• 学科: 医学
• 关键词: CT Consent INFORMATION
• 年，卷（期）: 2012,（1）
• 页码范围: 1-4
• 页数: 4页
• 分类号: R73

摘要

AIM: CT scanning is a widely utilised effective diagnostic tool. We aimed to establish whether patients are adequately informed prior to undergoing CT investigations. Methods: All adult patients with mental capacity attending the department for a CT study over a week period were invited to fill out a brief questionnaire prior to their scan. Results: 57 patients returned completed questionnaires. Overall 23% of patients were unsure or incorrect about the type of scan scheduled. Of patients attending with a new condition, 46% of them did not know their provisional diagnosis. Only 32 % of patients had insight into how a CT scan worked. This was taken to mean that the patient had included some reference to either x-rays, radiation or cross sectional imaging. Only 23% of patients were aware of potential complications of CT scans. Conclusion: Although written consent prior to CT scan is probably a step too far in providing patients with relevant risks/benefits of their investigation, we propose all patients undergoing CT have prior access to a written information sheet should they wish to be further informed regarding their procedure.