Satisfaction of Patients Examined with Mobile X-Ray vs. X-Ray at the Hospital—A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

In the Municipality of Aarhus, Denmark, mobile X-ray is offered to selected patients when a transfer to the Department of Radiology may be an obstacle. To our knowledge, no studies have examined patient’s satisfaction with mobile X-ray in a randomized controlled trial, but international qualitative and quantitative studies report a high level of patient satisfaction with mobile X-ray.

Purpose

The purpose of the study was to investigate whether patients in aged care facilities who were offered mobile X-ray were more satisfied with the X-ray examination compared to patients examined with X-ray at the Department of Radiology, Aarhus University Hospital.

Design

A part of a randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Satisfaction was measured using a self-developed questionnaire, containing 13 questions measuring satisfaction from different perspectives.

Participants

Due to patient’s fragility, healthcare staff members answered questions concerning satisfaction on behalf of the patients, who had been examined with mobile X-ray (n = 66) or X-ray at the hospital (n = 63). The patients were living in nursing homes and homes for the elderly in Aarhus Municipality.

Data

Data were collected and stored using the computer program REDCap. Data were statistically analyzed using Fisher’s exact test.

Results

Patients examined with mobile X-ray had a significantly higher satisfaction rate than those examined with X-ray at the hospital.

Conclusion

Satisfaction of patients examined with X-ray was reported by healthcare staff to be in favor of mobile X-ray.