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Magnetic resonance imaging incidents are severely underreported : a finding in a multicentre interview survey

Kihlberg, Johan ; Hansson, Boel LU ; Hall, Annika ; Tisell, Anders and Lundberg, Peter (2022) In European Radiology 32(1). p.477-488
Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure to investigate the occurrence, character and causes of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging incidents. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was developed containing details such as safety zones, examination complexity, staff MR knowledge, staff categories, and implementation of EU directive 2013/35. We focused on formally reported incidents that had occurred during 2014–2019, and unreported incidents during one year. Thirteen clinical MR units were visited, and the managing radiographer was interviewed. Open questions were analysed using conventionally adopted content analysis. Results: Thirty-seven written reports for 5 years and an additional 12 oral reports for 1 year... (More)

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure to investigate the occurrence, character and causes of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging incidents. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was developed containing details such as safety zones, examination complexity, staff MR knowledge, staff categories, and implementation of EU directive 2013/35. We focused on formally reported incidents that had occurred during 2014–2019, and unreported incidents during one year. Thirteen clinical MR units were visited, and the managing radiographer was interviewed. Open questions were analysed using conventionally adopted content analysis. Results: Thirty-seven written reports for 5 years and an additional 12 oral reports for 1 year were analysed. Only 38% of the incidents were reported formally. Some of these incidents were catastrophic. Negative correlations were observed between the number of annual incidents (per scanner) and staff MR knowledge (Spearman’s rho − 0.41, p < 0.05) as well as the number of MR physicists per scanner (− 0.48, p < 0.05). It was notable that only half of the sites had implemented the EU directive. Quotes like ‘Burns are to be expected in MR’ and not even knowing the name of the incident reporting system suggested an inadequate safety culture. Finally, there was a desire among staff for MR safety education. Conclusions: MR-related incidents were greatly underreported, and some incidents could have had catastrophic outcomes. There is a great desire among radiographers to enhance the safety culture, but to achieve this, much more accessible education is required, as well as focused involvement of the management of the operations. Key Points: • Only one in three magnetic resonance–related incidents were reported. • Several magnetic resonance incidents could have led to catastrophic consequences. • Much increased knowledge about magnetic resonance safety is needed by radiologists and radiographers.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Incident reporting, Magnetic resonance imaging, Medical device safety, Patient safety
in
European Radiology
volume
32
issue
1
pages
477 - 488
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:34286376
  • scopus:85110824788
ISSN
0938-7994
DOI
10.1007/s00330-021-08160-w
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
aa190aae-b0ec-4cd8-9b0a-98d6f6ce03c4
date added to LUP
2021-09-02 09:01:00
date last changed
2024-09-07 23:33:19
@article{aa190aae-b0ec-4cd8-9b0a-98d6f6ce03c4,
  abstract     = {{<p>Objectives: The purpose of this study was to develop a procedure to investigate the occurrence, character and causes of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging incidents. Methods: A semi-structured questionnaire was developed containing details such as safety zones, examination complexity, staff MR knowledge, staff categories, and implementation of EU directive 2013/35. We focused on formally reported incidents that had occurred during 2014–2019, and unreported incidents during one year. Thirteen clinical MR units were visited, and the managing radiographer was interviewed. Open questions were analysed using conventionally adopted content analysis. Results: Thirty-seven written reports for 5 years and an additional 12 oral reports for 1 year were analysed. Only 38% of the incidents were reported formally. Some of these incidents were catastrophic. Negative correlations were observed between the number of annual incidents (per scanner) and staff MR knowledge (Spearman’s rho − 0.41, p &lt; 0.05) as well as the number of MR physicists per scanner (− 0.48, p &lt; 0.05). It was notable that only half of the sites had implemented the EU directive. Quotes like ‘Burns are to be expected in MR’ and not even knowing the name of the incident reporting system suggested an inadequate safety culture. Finally, there was a desire among staff for MR safety education. Conclusions: MR-related incidents were greatly underreported, and some incidents could have had catastrophic outcomes. There is a great desire among radiographers to enhance the safety culture, but to achieve this, much more accessible education is required, as well as focused involvement of the management of the operations. Key Points: • Only one in three magnetic resonance–related incidents were reported. • Several magnetic resonance incidents could have led to catastrophic consequences. • Much increased knowledge about magnetic resonance safety is needed by radiologists and radiographers.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kihlberg, Johan and Hansson, Boel and Hall, Annika and Tisell, Anders and Lundberg, Peter}},
  issn         = {{0938-7994}},
  keywords     = {{Incident reporting; Magnetic resonance imaging; Medical device safety; Patient safety}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{477--488}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{European Radiology}},
  title        = {{Magnetic resonance imaging incidents are severely underreported : a finding in a multicentre interview survey}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00330-021-08160-w}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00330-021-08160-w}},
  volume       = {{32}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}