Table 5.

Factors that may modify patient-centred outcomes (PCOs) related to imaging tests

Modifier	Definition/examples
Individual patient characteristics	Sociocultural factors may impact response to multiple components of the testing process Prior experience of the test or testing process may influence knowledge and expectations of the test’s purpose and acceptance of related risks Prior probability of the condition being tested for, whether actual or perceived by the patient
Test type (ie, screening, diagnostic, monitoring)	Screening tests can lead to false positive results given large numbers of asymptomatic people being tested with relatively low prior probability Monitoring or surveillance for known condition (eg, cancer recurrence) can lead to anxiety in test intervals, and/or reassurance if results are negative
Clinical situation	Nature of the clinical condition being evaluated and its potential significance for that person’s healthcare may affect the balance of PCOs Testing in high acuity (eg, emergency department) settings may present different balance of benefits and risks (and prior probability of a given condition) compared with lower acuity (eg, primary care) setting
Clinicians and healthcare team	Perception of size and importance of test benefits and risks, based on experience, relationship with patient, healthcare setting, and knowledge or perception of an individual patient’s prior probability Ability (including time) to communicate indication for test is being used, relative risks and benefits Medical culture(s) may impose norms around test utilisation, acceptable levels of risk, patient expectations
Physical environment of imaging suite	Location in the clinic/hospital, visual appearance can influence patient emotions around the testing process Radiology staff can modify outcomes such as emotions and physical experiences through communication, trust and empathy
Communication of test results	Methods and timing of communicating results may impact the knowledge or information or emotional impact of the test

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