Purpose or Case Report: One of the pillars of the American College of Radiology initiative Imaging 3.0 is patient engagement. However, there are no specific guidelines into which interventions should be prioritize in order to maximize the benefits while acknowledging finite resources. We conducted this study to understand families’ preferences for communication before, during, and after receiving pediatric radiology services.
Methods & Materials: A focus group study was conducted with families with prior visits to our department using a semi-structured moderator guided interview in order to understand their preferences and priorities in terms of: a) preparation for the study; b) communication during the study; and c) communication of results. The focus groups were audio recorded and transcribed. We employed direct content analysis to identify areas of improvement with regards to families experience with radiology services.
Results: 13 family members participated in 3 focus group discussions. Overall, families described their radiology experience positively. Participants described need for better education of imaging that is specific to their studies and curated/endorsed by the department, succinct pre-study instructions beyond a courtesy call, and improved knowledge on the options to receive results including immediate communication with the radiologist, patients’ portal, and direct phone access to radiologist when questions about the results arise. If results are delivered in person, participants expressed a desire for more privacy and confidentiality in the waiting room setting.
Conclusions: While educational materials and communication avenues exist, most families are unaware of important details, therefore better dissemination strategies on the options for engagement with the radiology department are needed. In response to the families’ preferences for increased communication, we plan to give priority to enhanced patient-specific material available online during appointment scheduling and to deploy a text based appointment reminder that incorporates imaging education and follow-up identification of radiologists associated with the reading.