Radiology reporting of obesity: a survey of patient and clinician attitudes

• Published in: Clinical radiology Vol. 73; no. 5; pp. 506.e9 - 506.e15
• Main Authors: Murray, T.E., Ma, S.D., Doyle, F., Lee, M.J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Attitude of Health Personnel; Documentation; Humans; Obesity - epidemiology; Prevalence; Radiology Department, Hospital; Social Stigma; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0009-9260; 1365-229X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2017.11.028

To determine whether obesity information obtained via imaging techniques is desirable for clinicians and patients, and to investigate whether it impacts clinical decision-making. Parallel surveys were designed to assess patient and clinician attitudes to the medical utility and social stigma of reporting obesity on radiology reports performed for other reasons. Where obesity was noted at medical imaging performed for any reason, clinicians and patients strongly agreed that it should be included in the radiology report (5.9 and 5.8, respectively, on a seven-point preference score ranging from strongly disagree [1] to strongly agree [7]). Clinicians and patients indicated a preference for a quantitative report. Clinicians somewhat disagreed and patients disagreed that a radiology report describing obesity would be considered insulting (3 and 2.1, respectively). Clinicians and patients agreed that they would be more likely to discuss overweight/obesity if it was described in a radiology report (5.3 and 6.1 respectively). Clinicians and patients agreed that radiology reports describing obesity would influence future management/behaviour (4.5 and 6.2, respectively). Clinicians strongly disagreed that they would avoid sending patients for scans if obesity was reported (1.3). Patients also disagreed that including such information on a report would result in imaging avoidance (1.9). Both clinicians and patients indicate a clear preference for obesity-related information on radiology reports for examinations performed for any reason. Surveyed attitudes suggest including such information is not considered insulting, and is unlikely to result in avoidance of imaging. •Patients and clinicians both express a preference for the inclusion of overweight / obesity on radiology reports on scans performed for other reasons.•Patients report that they would not consider a radiology report describing overweight/obesity insulting.•Both clinicians and patients believe that reporting overweight/ obesity would not make them less likely to refer or attend for future scans.