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. 2022 Apr;127(4):426-432.
doi: 10.1007/s11547-022-01454-z. Epub 2022 Mar 13.

COVID-19 safety measures at the Radiology Unit of a Transplant Institute: the non-COVID-19 patient's confidence with safety procedures

Roberta Gerasia  1 , Giuseppe Mamone  2 , Santina Amato  1 , Antonino Cucchiara  1 , Giuseppe Salvatore Gallo  1 , Corrado Tafaro  1 , Giuseppe Fiorello  1 , Calogero Caruso  1 , Roberto Miraglia  1
Affiliations

COVID-19 safety measures at the Radiology Unit of a Transplant Institute: the non-COVID-19 patient's confidence with safety procedures

Roberta Gerasia et al. Radiol Med. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: To support the wellbeing of both patients and their families, our aim was to investigate the satisfaction of non-COVID in- and out-patients regarding safety measures implemented at our radiology unit of a transplant institute against COVID infection.

Materials and methods: Over a five-month period, adult patients' feedback was obtained by a questionnaire on the fear of contracting COVID-19 during a radiology examination, the perceived delay in treatment, and the following safety measures implemented: modified schedules to limit the number of patients in the waiting area and to maximize social distancing; assistance by staff when visitors were not admitted; cleaning and disinfection of machines; mask wearing and hand hygiene of staff; and staff advice on hand hygiene and infection control precautions.

Results: Over a five-month period, our preliminary results (387 patients) showed general patient satisfaction (99.1%) with safety measures applied at our radiology unit. Patients were satisfied with distancing and assistance by staff (100%), cleaning and disinfection (91%), mask wearing and hand hygiene of the staff (97%), and staff advice (94%). There was some criticism of the perceived delay in treatment (7.3%) and in the scheduling of the waiting list (5.4%), with 5.4% fearing contracting the virus. Patients' awareness of safety measures and confidence in the hospital preparedness policy was perceived by all interviewers, and 100% appreciated being questioned.

Conclusion: The feedback given by the non-COVID patient helps to measure the quality in health care, to improve the quality service, and to protect and satisfy more vulnerable patients, also during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Patient safety; Patient satisfaction; Radiology; Transplant recipient.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Number of patients questioned according to imaging modality. 80.1% for radiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and ultrasound (US). The remaining19.9% for interventional radiology (IR)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
General patient satisfaction with safety measures applied at our radiology unit
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Results in percentage of patients’ perceived delay in treatment and satisfaction with the schedules waiting list, and the following safety measures: staff advice on hand hygiene and infection control precautions; mask wearing and hand hygiene of the staff; cleaning and disinfection; assistance by staff when visitors are not admitted; distancing in waiting room
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Percentage of patients who still fear contracting the virus at our unit
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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