Dematerialisation of Patient's Informed Consent in Radiology: Insights on Current Status and Radiologists' Opinion from an Italian Online Survey

Overview

Journal Radiol Med

Specialty Radiology

Date 2019 Apr 4

PMID 30941634

Citations 3

Authors

Francesca Coppola

Lorenzo Faggioni

Roberto Grassi

Corrado Bibbolino

Agatina Rizzo

Nicoletta Gandolfo

Antonella Calvisi

Carlo Alberto Cametti

Giorgio Benea

Andrea Giovagnoni

Carmelo Privitera

Daniele Regge

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the current status of patient's informed consent (PIC) management at radiological centres and the overall opinion of radiologist active members of the Italian Society of Medical Radiology (SIRM) about PIC dematerialisation through an online survey.

Methods And Materials: All members were invited to join the survey as an initiative by the Imaging Informatics Chapter of SIRM. The survey consisted of 11 multiple-choice questions about participants' demographics, current local modalities of PIC acquisition and storage, perceived advantages and disadvantages of PIC dematerialisation over conventional paper-based PIC, and overall opinion about PIC dematerialisation.

Results: A total of 1791 radiologists (amounting to 17.4% of active SIRM members for the year 2016) joined the survey. Perceived advantages of PIC dematerialisation were easier and faster PIC recovery (96.5%), safer storage and conservation (94.5%), and reduced costs (90.7%). Conversely, the need to create dedicated areas for PIC acquisition inside each radiological unit (64.0%) and to gain preliminary approval for the use of advanced digital signature tools from patients (51.8%) were seen as potential disadvantages. Overall, 94.5% of respondents had a positive opinion about PIC dematerialisation.

Conclusion: Radiologists were mostly favourable to PIC dematerialisation. However, concerns were raised that its practical implementation might face hurdles due to its complexity in current real life working conditions.

Citing Articles

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