MRI検査を受ける患者のリスク認知度の検討

抄録

　This study aimed to investigate patients’ awareness of risk factors associated with MRI in order to practice safe and secure MRI. To this end, a questionnaire survey was conducted with 1096 patients at Takai Hospital and Osaka University Hospital. The four questions were as follows: 1) Do you know what an MRI is in general?, 2) Do you know the metal hazards in MRI?, 3) Do you know the burn hazards in MRI?, and 4) Do you know that MRI make loud noises?

　Patients had the least understanding of “Burns”, followed by “MRI in general”, “Metal hazards”, and then “Noise”. Patients undergoing MRI examinations for the first time had the lowest level of awareness, and awareness increased as they gained more experience with MRI examinations. Awareness was better when patients could imagine the possible risks and lower when they could not. Awareness also increased as the patient’s experienced more examinations were provided with more explanations, and their overall understanding of the process increased.

　Medical professionals should be cognizant that some MRI-related risk factors are not understood by our patients. Therefore, we should recognize and respond to the reasons why these risk factors are difficult to communicate.