title: Is there a preference for PET or SPECT brain imaging in diagnosing dementia? The views of people with dementia, carers, and healthy controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Positron emission tomography (PET) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) brain imaging are widely used as diagnostic tools for suspected dementia but no studies have directly compared participant views of the two procedures. We used a range of methods to explore preferences for PET and SPECT.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients and controls (and accompanying carers) completed questionnaires immediately after undergoing PET and SPECT brain scans. Pulse rate data were collected during each scan. Scan attributes were prioritized using a card sorting exercise; carers and controls additionally answered willingness to pay (WTP) questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few differences were found either between the scans or groups of participants, although carers marginally preferred SPECT. Diagnostic accuracy was prioritized over other scan characteristics. Mean heart rate during both scans was lower than baseline heart rate measured at home (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most participants viewed PET and SPECT scans as roughly equivalent and did not have a preference for either scan. Carer preference for SPECT is likely to reflect their desire to be with the patient (routine practice for SPECT but not for PET), suggesting that they should be able to accompany vulnerable patients throughout imaging procedures wherever possible. Pulse rate data indicated that brain imaging was no more stressful than a home visit (HV) from a researcher. The data do not support the anecdotal view that PET is a more burdensome procedure and the use of PET or SPECT scans in dementia should be based on diagnostic accuracy of the technique.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Society,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bamford
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience,Campus for Ageing and Vitality,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: Kirsty
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience,Campus for Ageing and Vitality,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience,Campus for Ageing and Vitality,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: Nicky
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Physics Department,Royal Victoria Infirmary,Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE1 4LP,UK.
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience,Campus for Ageing and Vitality,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience,Campus for Ageing and Vitality,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Firbank
authors.affiliation: Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health,Glasgow Caledonian University,Glasgow,G4 0BA,UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.affiliation: Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health,Glasgow Caledonian University,Glasgow,G4 0BA,UK.
authors.forename: Cam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donaldson
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuroscience,Campus for Ageing and Vitality,Newcastle University,Newcastle upon Tyne,NE4 5PL,UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059906:Neuroimaging; D057240:Patient Preference; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; PET; SPECT; dementia with Lewy bodies; diagnosis; patient preference; willingness to pay