MRI-related anxiety and patient-facing digital tools among adults with prior MRI experience: A cross-sectional study

Background and objective Patient-facing digital tools serve different purposes across the MRI pathway, but access alone may not capture their relationship with anxiety. This study examined recalled MRI-related anxiety and digital experiences among adults with previous MRI examinations in Saudi Arabia. Methods An electronic cross-sectional questionnaire included 678 adults. The 15-item Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Anxiety Questionnaire (MRI-AQ; possible range 15–60) assessed recalled anxiety during the most recent examination. Multivariable linear regression used HC3 robust standard errors. Tool-specific analyses were exploratory, with Holm correction. Perceived effects of digital tools and online result viewing were described separately. Results The mean MRI-AQ score was 35.17 ± 10.13 (Cronbach's α = 0.883). Self-reported claustrophobia had the largest adjusted association with higher scores (yes versus no: B = 8.73, 95% CI 7.01–10.45). At least five lifetime examinations were associated with lower scores than one examination (B = −3.45, 95% CI −5.78 to −1.12). Any digital-tool use was not associated with the score (B = 0.07, 95% CI −1.45 to 1.60), and no individual tool remained significant after Holm correction. Among 424 tool users, 78.3% perceived reduced anxiety. Among 189 participants who viewed results before clinician discussion, 41.3% reported increased anxiety. Conclusion Recalled scan anxiety, perceived digital support, and concern after viewing results represented distinct experiences. The findings support evaluating specific preparation content and result-communication pathways prospectively; they do not establish the effectiveness of digital tools.