Understanding Patient Knowledge and Participation in Radiological Examinations: A Study on Women of Childbearing Age

Beatriz Barros, Florentino Serranheira

Abstract


Over the years, patients have been called upon to play a more active role in their health processes. An increase in radiological examinations has also been observed, which leads to increased exposure of the most sensitive population (women of childbearing age) to X-rays and subsequent stochastic effects. Therefore, it is important to understand what knowledge this group has about radiology, if they intend to increase/know more about exposure to radiation, as well as to understand their participation in their radiological process. For a month, and with the help of three Portuguese associations, it was possible to disseminate the data collection instrument (questionnaire) adapted to the Portuguese reality on all its digital platforms. In this way, it was possible to obtain 502 responses from women between the ages of 18 and 57. Through the data obtained, it was noticed that participation and knowledge are reduced, but there is a willingness on the part of the sample to obtain more information and participate more in the entire radiological process. For greater participation of users in their radiological process (before the radiological examination, during the procedure, and after the procedure), it is important to provide tools that help to increase knowledge in this area. Stimulating interaction between health professionals in the field of radiology and users is equally important.

 

Doi: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2022-04-03-03

Full Text: PDF


Keywords


Literacy; Empowerment; Women; Radiology.

References


Loureiro, I. (2009). Competências para promover a saúde. Revista Portuguesa de Pedagogia, 43(2), 81–103. doi:10.14195/1647-8614_43-2_5.

Fazenda, I. (2005). Empowerment e participação, uma estratégia de mudança. Portuguese Center for Research and History and Social Work accessed, Lisbon, Portugal. (In Portuguese).

Souza, J. M. de, Tholl, A. D., Córdova, F. P., Heidemann, I. T. S. B., Boehs, A. E., & Nitschke, R. G. (2014). Practical applicability of empowerment in health promotion strategies. Science and Collective Health, 19(7), 2265–2276. doi:10.1590/1413-81232014197.10272013.

Lumbreras, B., Vilar, J., González-Álvarez, I., Guilabert, M., Pastor-Valero, M., Parker, L. A., Vilar-Palop, J., & Hernández-Aguado, I. (2017). Avoiding fears and promoting shared decision-making: How should physicians inform patients about radiation exposure from imaging tests? PLoS ONE, 12(7), 1–14. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0180592.

Al Ewaidat, H., Zheng, X., Khader, Y., Spuur, K., Abdelrahman, M., Alhasan, M. K. M., & Al-Hourani, Z. A. (2018). Knowledge and Awareness of CT Radiation Dose and Risk among Patients. Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography, 34(5), 347–355. doi:10.1177/8756479318776214.

Pedro, A. R., Amaral, O., & Escoval, A. (2016). Health literacy, from data to action: translation, validation and application of the European Health Literacy Survey in Portugal. Portuguese Journal of Public Health, 34(3), 259–275. doi:10.1016/j.rpsp.2016.07.002. (In Portuguese).

Directorate-General for Health. (2018). Action plan for health literacy Portugal 2019-2021. Directorate-General for Health, Lisbon, Portugal. Available online: https://www.dgs.pt/em-destaque/programa-nacional-de-educacao-para-a-saude-literacia-e-autocuidados.aspx (accessed on April 2022). (In Portuguese).

Goske, M. J., & Bulas, D. (2009). Improving health literacy: Informed decision-making rather than informed consent for CT scans in children. Pediatric Radiology, 39(9), 901–903. doi:10.1007/s00247-009-1322-6.

Almeida, L. M. D. (2005). From primordial prevention to quaternary prevention. Revista Portuguesa de Saúde Pública, 23(1), 91-96. (In Portuguese).

McCollough, C. H., Bushberg, J. T., Fletcher, J. G., & Eckel, L. J. (2015). Answers to Common Questions about the Use and Safety of CT Scans. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 90(10), 1380–1392. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2015.07.011.

Naqvi, S. T. S., Batool, S. W., Rizvi, S. A. H., & Farhan, K. (2019). Awareness of Hazards of X-Ray Imaging and Perception Regarding Necessary Safety Measures to be taken during X-Ray Imaging Procedures among Patients in Public Sector Tertiary Hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. Cureus, 11(5). doi:10.7759/cureus.4756.

Asefa, G., Getnet, W., & Tewelde, T. (2016). Knowledge about Radiation Related Health Hazards and Protective Measures among Patients Waiting for Radiologic Imaging in Jimma University Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 26(3), 227–236. doi:10.4314/ejhs.v26i3.5.

Yucel, A., Karakas, E., Bulbul, E., Kocar, I., Duman, B., & Onur, A. (2009). Knowledge about Ionizing Radiation and Radiation Protection among Patients Awaiting Radiological Examinations: A cross-sectional survey. The Medical Journal of Kocatepe, 22(March 2008), 25–31.

Costa, C., Preto, L., & Rodrigues, V. (2015). Users' knowledge about the risks of X-radiation. Saúde: do Desafio ao Compromisso, 350-360. (In Portuguese).

Almaghrabi., N. (2016). A Study of Knowledge & Awareness of Radiation Exposure Risk in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Advanced Research, 4(7), 1852–1856. doi:10.21474/ijar01/1008.

Briggs-Kamara, M., & Okoye, P. (2013). Radiation safety awareness among patients and radiographers in three hospitals in Port Harcourt. American Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research, 4(1), 83–88. doi:10.5251/ajsir.2013.4.1.83.88.

Fletcher, J. G., Kofler, J. M., Coburn, J. A., Bruining, D. H., & McCollough, C. H. (2013). Perspective on radiation risk in CT imaging. Abdominal Imaging, 38(1), 22–31. doi:10.1007/s00261-012-9933-z.

American College of Radiology. (2018). ACR– Society of Pediatric Radiology (SPR) practice guideline for imaging pregnant or potentially pregnant adolescents and women with ionizing radiation. Practice Parameter, Pregnant or Potentially Pregnant Patients. Available online: https://www.acr.org/-/media/ACR/Files/Practice-Parameters/Pregnant-Pts.pdf (accessed on April 2022).

Costa Vicente, B. I., Varandas Mestre, D., Pereira de Almeida, R. P., Do Espírito Santo Rodrigues, S. I., Caldeira Lagem Abrantes, A. F., & Vieira Ribeiro, L. P. (2022). Literacia Radiológica: o que os utentes sabem sobre radiação ionizante? Revista Internacional Em Língua Portuguesa, 42, 107–120. doi:10.31492/2184-2043.rilp2022.42/pp.107-120. (In Portuguese).

Alawad, S., & Abujamea, A. (2021). Awareness of radiation hazards in patients attending radiology departments. Radiation and Environmental Biophysics, 60(3), 453–458. doi:10.1007/s00411-021-00919-5.

Righi, M., Leone, G. R., Carboni, A., Caudai, C., Colantonio, S., Kuruoglu, E. E., ... & Moroni, D. (2022). SI-Lab Annual Research Report 2021. SI-Lab Annual Research Colantonio, National Research Council of Italy, Rome, Italy.

Ribeiro, A., Husson, O., Drey, N., Murray, I., May, K., Thurston, J., & Oyen, W. (2020). Ionising radiation exposure from medical imaging – A review of Patient’s (un)awareness. Radiography, 26(2), e25–e30. doi:10.1016/j.radi.2019.10.002.

Salerno, S., Nardi, C., Pace, M., Rabiolo, L., Flammia, F., Loverre, F., Matranga, D., Granata, C., Tomà, P., & Colagrande, S. (2022). Communicating radiation dose in medical imaging: How to best inform our patients? Acta Radiologica Open, 12(4). doi:10.1177/20584601231168967.

Iared, W., & Shigueoka, D. C. (2010). Exposure to radiation during imaging exams: frequently asked questions. Diagn Tratamento, 15(3), 143-5. (In Portuguese).

American College of Radiology. (2017). Acr Practice Parameter for Performing and Interpreting Diagnostic Computed. Practice Parameter, Performing and Interpreting CT, American College of Radiology, Virginia, United States.

Skromov de Albuquerque, A., & Mastrocola, L. E. (2017). Radiação E Exames Diagnósticos: Qual O Risco Real. Revista Da Sociedade de Cardiologia Do Estado de São Paulo, 27(2), 82–87. doi:10.29381/0103-8559/2017270282-7. (In Portuguese).

University of California. (2000). Radiation Safety Fundamentals Workbook. Environmental Health and Safety, University of California, Santa Cruz, United States.

Shyu, J. Y., & Sodickson, A. D. (2016). Communicating radiation risk to patients and referring physicians in the emergency department setting. British Journal of Radiology, 89(1061). doi:10.1259/bjr.20150868.

Hricak, H., Brenner, D. J., Adelstein, S. J., Frush, D. P., Hall, E. J., Howell, R. W., McCollough, C. H., Mettler, F. A., Pearce, M. S., Suleiman, O. H., Thrall, J. H., & Wagner, L. K. (2011). Managing radiation use in medical imaging: A multifaceted challenge. Radiology, 258(3), 889–905. doi:10.1148/radiol.10101157.

Takakuwa, K. M., Estepa, A. T., & Shofer, F. S. (2010). Knowledge and attitudes of emergency department patients regarding radiation risk of CT: Effects of age, sex, race, education, insurance, body mass index, pain, and seriousness of illness. American Journal of Roentgenology, 195(5), 1151–1158. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3847.

Silva, C. F., & Guerra, T. (2017). Volume or Value? The role of the radiologist in the management of radiological exams. Portuguese Medical Record, 30(9), 628–632. doi:10.20344/amp.8253. (In Portuguese).

Sin, H. K., Wong, C. S., Huang, B., Yiu, K. L., Wong, W. L., & Chu, Y. C. T. (2013). Assessing local patients’ knowledge and awareness of radiation dose and risks associated with medical imaging: A questionnaire study. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology, 57(1), 38–44. doi:10.1111/j.1754-9485.2012.02471.x.

Jończyk-Potoczna, K., Pucher, B., Strzelczuk-Judka, L., Buraczyńska-Andrzejewska, B., Więckowska, B., Krauss, H., Biliński, P., & Wojtyła-Buciora, P. (2019). The Awareness of Caregivers about Their Children’S Exposure to Ionizing Radiation Accompanying Medical Procedures: the Assessment Study. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 32(1), 65–73. doi:10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01223.

Instituto Nacional de Estatística. (2016). Inquérito Nacional de Saúde 2014. National Institute of Statistics, Lisbon, Portugal. Available online: https://www.ine.pt/xurl/pub/263714091 (accessed on April 2022). (In Portuguese).

EVITA. (2022) Support Association for Carriers of Alterations in Genes Related to Hereditary Cancer. Available online: https://www.evitacancro.org/ (accessed on April 2022). (In Portuguese).

NUCLIRAD (2022). Radiology Technicians Development Center, Azueira, Mafra, Portugal. Available online: https://ndtradiologia.wixsite.com/nuclirad (accessed on April 2022). (In Portuguese).

PORDATA. (2020). Female resident population aged 15 and over: total and by highest completed level of education. Francisco Manuel dos Santos. Lisbon, Portugal. 2020. Available online: https://www.pordata.pt/Portugal/População+residente+do+sexo +feminino+com+15+e+mais+anos+total+e+por+nível+de+escolaridade+completo+mais+elevado-2103 (accessed on April 2022). (In Portuguese).

Ukkola, L., Oikarinen, H., Henner, A., Haapea, M., & Tervonen, O. (2017). Patient information regarding medical radiation exposure is inadequate: Patients’ experience in a university hospital. Radiography, 23(4), e114–e119. doi:10.1016/j.radi.2017.04.001.

Lam, D. L., Larson, D. B., Eisenberg, J. D., Forman, H. P., & Lee, C. I. (2015). Communicating potential radiation-induced cancer risks from medical imaging directly to patients. American Journal of Roentgenology, 205(5), 962–970. doi:10.2214/AJR.15.15057.

Chiesa, A. M., Nascimento, D. D. G. do, Braccialli, L. A. D., & Oliveira, M. A. C. de. (2007). The Training Of Health Professionals: Meaningful Learning In The Light Of Health Promotion. Cogitare Enfermagem, 12(2), 236-240. doi:10.5380/ce.v12i2.9829. (In Portuguese).

Ugwu, A. C., Shem, S. L., & Erondu, F. (2009). Patients’ perception of care during special radiological examinations. African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine, 1(1), 100–102. doi:10.4102/phcfm.v1i1.38.

Ukkola, L., Oikarinen, H., Henner, A., Honkanen, H., Haapea, M., & Tervonen, O. (2016). Information about radiation dose and risks in connection with radiological examinations: what patients would like to know? European Radiology, 26(2), 436–443. doi:10.1007/s00330-015-3838-5.

Corbett, R. H. (2000). What do patients really know or want to know about X-rays. Proceedings of 10th International Congress of the International Radiation Protection Association, 14-19 May, 2000, Hiroshima, Japan.


Full Text: PDF

DOI: 10.28991/SciMedJ-2022-04-03-03

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2022 Beatriz Barros, Florentino Serranheira