Communication of CT Risks to Patients Is Inadequate

Discussions between providers and patients on the radiation risks of CT imaging are infrequent and, when they do take place, have little impact on patients’ knowledge of the risks, according to a study published in the April 8, 2013, issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

The authors surveyed 271 outpatients undergoing CT scans at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital. Eighty-six percent of patients were over age 50, and 92% were male. Participants were asked, among other things, whether they had a discussion with their provider about both the risks and benefits of...