Many patients have difficulty tolerating medical imaging and radiation therapy procedures that often cause repeat examinations and/or poor-quality outcomes. Medical Radiation Technologists (MRTs) must communicate with patients, their families and other healthcare providers to ensure patients are physically, mentally and emotionally able to perform the procedure requested.
Sources:
American Society of Radiologic Technologists. The practice standards for medical imaging and radiation therapy, Radiography Practice Standards. ASRT. [Internet]. June 2017. [Accessed 6 Dec 2017].
Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. Claustrophobia. Best Practice Guidelines. CAMRT. [Internet]. Feb 2016. [Accessed 17 Dec 2018].
Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists. Patient and family-centered care in practice. Best Practice Guidelines. CAMRT. [Internet]. Nov 2015. [Accessed 17 Dec 2018].
Clover K, et al. Disruption to radiation therapy sessions due to anxiety among patients receiving radiation therapy to the head and neck area can be predicted using patient self-report measures. Psycho-Oncology. 2011 Dec;vol20(12):1334-1341. PMID: 20878722.
Grilo A, et al. Anxiety in cancer patients during 18F-FDG PET/CT low dose: A comparison of anxiety levels before and after imaging studies. Nurs Res Pract. 2017;vol(2017):3057495. PMID: 28392942.
Katz RC, et al. Anxiety and the determinants in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging. J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 1994 June;vol25(2):131-134. PMID: 7983222.
Story MF, et al. Accessibility of Radiology Equipment for Patients with Mobility Disabilities. Human Factors. 2008 Oct;vol50(5):801-10. PMID: 19110840.
Wollman D, et al. Tolerance of MRI procedures by the oldest old. Magn Reson Imaging. 2004 Nov;vol22(9):1299-1304. PMID: 15607102.