Key result
Radiographer-led extended CT information improves patient reassurance and satisfaction while reducing recurring chest pain.
Why the study?
Despite normal coronary computed tomography findings, many patients with non-coronary chest pain continue to believe they suffer from coronary artery disease.
Does a radiographer-led intervention providing extended information and immediate results improve reassurance, treatment satisfaction, and recurring chest pain in patients with normal coronary CT angiography?
RCT (n=92)
Does a radiographer-led intervention providing extended information and immediate results improve reassurance, treatment satisfaction, and recurring chest pain in patients with normal coronary CT angiography?
A radiographer-led intervention providing immediate results and visual information after a normal coronary CTA significantly improves patient reassurance and reduces recurring chest pain.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Supports routine use after normal coronary CTA; extends RCT evidence for communication interventions in cardiac imaging.
BACKGROUND: Chest pain is a common complaint in the general practitioner's (GP) office. Computed tomography (CT) is one of the main diagnostic tools available for assessing coronary artery disease (CAD), with a low probability of a false-negative result (<1%). Despite normal CT findings, many patients with non-coronary chest pain believe they suffer from CAD. AIMS: To determine the effect of an intervention on reassurance, treatment satisfaction, and recurring chest pain in patients with non-coronary chest pain at follow-up after 1 month. METHODS: Patients with chest pain, but with normal coronary CT angiography, i.e., no CAD, were randomized into two groups. The intervention group received extended information about the CT examination, including visualization of their individual coronary calcium score images, before the radiographer conveyed the final examination result. The control group received standard care, i.e., neither extended information nor the examination result and were encouraged to consult their referring cardiologist or GP after 1 week. Items from the Seattle Angina Questionnaire and a question regarding reassurance measured the effect of the intervention at follow-up after 1 month. RESULTS: The study included 92 patients, 63 female and 29 male, with a follow-up response rate of 80%. Reassurance and overall treatment satisfaction were significantly higher in the intervention group (P = 0.016 and P = 0.046 respectively). The incidence of chest pain was significantly reduced in the intervention group (P = 0.042). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the intervention group showed significantly higher reassurance, overall treatment satisfaction, and experienced significantly less chest pain at follow-up after 1 month. CLINICAL TRIALS DATABASE ID: NCT03781661.
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Krohn et al. (2021) conducted an RCT in Non-coronary chest pain (n=92). Radiographer-led intervention with extended CT information and results vs. Standard care was evaluated on Reassurance, treatment satisfaction, and recurring chest pain (p=0.016, 0.046, 0.042). A radiographer-led intervention providing extended CT information significantly increased reassurance (P=0.016) and treatment satisfaction (P=0.046), and reduced recurring chest pain (P=0.042).
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