Saudi patients’ preferred modes of receiving radio imaging reports from radiologists, their impact, and determinants – a survey

A.K. Alduraibi, S.K. Alduraibi, K.A. Alghofaily, A.S. Aldhilan, Z. Almushayti, B. Alkhalifah, M. Aboualkheir, S.A.A. Alashqar, S.S. Alhussain, I.K.R. Alharbi, A.A.A. Almushayqih, F.A. Alsolai, Y.A. Almohaimeed, Y.A. Albaarrak, R.K. Alduraibi

Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia. salduraibi@qu.edu.sa

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• Radiology

OBJECTIVE: To review patients’ perspectives regarding getting imaging reports from radiologists and the factors affecting their desired mode of receiving reports.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2022 at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Patients undergoing imaging investigations were surveyed regarding real-time communication and delayed communication for normal and abnormal reports. We also asked about the impact of receiving reports and their timing. We used a five-point graded Likert scale for responses. The scores of responses were correlated by age group, gender, and type of report.

RESULTS: We surveyed 377 patients. 37.4% (141) of participants and 40% (181) of participants expressed a strong desire or a desire to receive reports on the same day. The scores for receiving same-day abnormal reports were higher than for normal reports (p-value = 0.03). 259 (68.7%) patients wanted to get the report from their physician. Significantly more patients with abnormal reports wanted to review them with their physicians than patients with normal reports (p-value < 0.001). Getting reports quickly positively affected the mental health of patients. 57% of patients preferred receiving reports on abnormal findings within two hours, while 45.9% preferred receiving routine or normal reports within the same time frame. The value of radiologists’ prompt reporting is appreciated by patients regardless of the type of results. Females reported a more positive impact on mental health from getting a radiology report sooner than males (p-value = 0.028). Age group did not correlate with real-time communication, delayed reporting, or the impact on mental health.

CONCLUSIONS: The desire to quickly receive investigative radio-imaging reports by Saudi patients was complemented by reviewing the outcome with the attending physician, and it had a more positive impact on mental health in females than in males.

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