Patients Imaging Department Expectations
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Phenomenological study to explore expectations of oncology patients when they come for a CT or MRI scan in an imaging department.
IRAS ID
349820
Contact name
Kirti Thakor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Paul Strickland Scanner Centre
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 23 days
Research summary
Oncology patients have regular CT and MRI scans during their treatment. Patients’ can have regular 3-monthly appointments and some as frequently as 8-weekly appointments if they are on clinical trials. Patients have expectations from the diagnostic imaging department when they come for their scan especially if they are attending on a regular basis. There are 4 stages when patients are in contact with the imaging department: before the examination which involves the booking process, during the examination including the preparation for the scan and after the examination, the post care and result findings. CT and MRI have different requirements from patients. This impacts on patients’ expectations from each modality, patients having CT and MRI on the same day may have varying expectations of their longer stay at the imaging department. The aim of the project is to identify what the patient’s expectations are at each stage. The aim of our imaging department is to provide a high standard of care to patients, this study will help identify whether staff are meeting patient expectations and providing a positive experience. When patient expectations are being met this can have a positive impact on service delivery such as avoiding scan time delays. This study will involve face-to-face or online semi-structured interview of 30 participants to explore their expectations of the imaging department at the various stages. There will be two interviewers to avoid bias. The interviews will be analysed using thematic analysis where themes and patterns during the interviews will be identified.
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0093
Date of REC Opinion
13 May 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion