Realising benefits and mitigating risks: A strategy for sharing diagnostic radiological images in the age of patient-centred care.
File(s)
Author(s)
Cox, William Allenby Southam
Type
Thesis
Abstract
This research explores the unexplored benefits and risks of sharing diagnostic radiological images with patients.
A literature review revealed that most work in this area was concerned with the clinical benefits of imaging and that there was a gap in the existing research addressing sharing images with patients.
A 3-phase sequential mixed methods approach was adopted from within the pragmatic paradigm with the aim of identifying unexplored benefits and risks that sharing images might provide and to create and test a strategy to facilitate that sharing. The work also aimed to produce a novel contribution to benefits management theory.
The results of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with patients and clinical experts confirmed that there were both benefits and risks to this process. These benefits included promoting patient engagement, increasing patient understanding and enhancing communication. The risks identified included confusing or eliciting a negative emotional response from patients.
These results were incorporated into an image sharing strategy. This strategy informed the creation of an interpretive layer to sit between the patient and their images. A prototype of this interpretive layer was created and tested on patients and experts. It was found that this layer was effective in releasing benefits from image sharing while mitigating risks.
Recommendations are made for practice, education and further research. These included that awareness should be raised of the potential benefits and risks of image sharing.
A literature review revealed that most work in this area was concerned with the clinical benefits of imaging and that there was a gap in the existing research addressing sharing images with patients.
A 3-phase sequential mixed methods approach was adopted from within the pragmatic paradigm with the aim of identifying unexplored benefits and risks that sharing images might provide and to create and test a strategy to facilitate that sharing. The work also aimed to produce a novel contribution to benefits management theory.
The results of questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with patients and clinical experts confirmed that there were both benefits and risks to this process. These benefits included promoting patient engagement, increasing patient understanding and enhancing communication. The risks identified included confusing or eliciting a negative emotional response from patients.
These results were incorporated into an image sharing strategy. This strategy informed the creation of an interpretive layer to sit between the patient and their images. A prototype of this interpretive layer was created and tested on patients and experts. It was found that this layer was effective in releasing benefits from image sharing while mitigating risks.
Recommendations are made for practice, education and further research. These included that awareness should be raised of the potential benefits and risks of image sharing.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2021-01
Date Awarded
2021-09
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Bello, Fernando
Publisher Department
Department of Surgery & Cancer
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)