title: Are patients ready for communication with radiologists? Results of the R2P2 survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patient empowerment requires that patients have enough information to make decisions concerning their own health. If patients are to discuss imaging results with radiologists, they have to know who these medical professionals are and what they do.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether patients understand the role of radiologists, and if particular subgroups are better informed than other ones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive radiology outpatients in eight radiology centers could complete a web-based or printed questionnaire. Respondents indicated on a five-point Likert scale their level of agreement with 18 statements on the role of radiologists and their preferences concerning contacts with radiologists. Results were rearranged to allow comparison of predetermined subgroups. Dichotomous results were analyzed using χ(2) statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1,146 questionnaires were found eligible for analysis. Results showed confusion as to the question whether radiologists are medically qualified and enjoy all the privileges thereof. Medically qualified or highly educated respondents were modestly better informed. Patients in private practice were better informed than outpatients in hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient empowerment requires better understanding of the role of radiologists. Different population subgroups necessitate specific information strategies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium janbosmans@telenet.be.
authors.forename: Jan Ml
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bosmans
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dhondt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lize
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smits
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Antwerp University Hospital & University of Antwerp, Flanders, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Parizel
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Ghent University, Ghent, Flanders, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gemmel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001530:Belgium; D003142:Communication; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011209:Power, Psychological; D011871:Radiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Medicolegal issues; patient communication; patient empowerment; socioeconomic issues