People with acute abdominal pain who go to a hospital emergency department are more confident when CT imaging is part of their medical evaluation but nearly three-quarters of patients have a poor understanding of the concomitant radiation exposure and risk and underestimate their previous imaging
experience.
There were 1,168 participants, 67% women and mean age 40.7 years.
Median confidence in a medical evaluation without ancillary testing was 20 (95% confidence interval [CI] 16 to 25) compared with 90 (95% CI 88 to 91) when laboratory testing and CT were included.
More than 70% of participants underestimated the radiation dose of CT relative to chest radiography, and cancer risk comprehension was poor.
Median agreement with the Hiroshima statement was 13 (95% CI 10 to 16) and 45 (95% CI 40 to 45) with the increased lifetime cancer risk statement.
Seven hundred ninety-five patients reported receiving a previous CT. Of 365 patients who reported no previous CT, 142 (39%) had one documented in our electronic medical record.
Source
Patient Perceptions of Computed Tomographic Imaging and Their Understanding of Radiation Risk and Exposure
(MDN)
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