This task is not as easy as they claim and rather time-consuming: while the mean risk to the population by a certain examination can usually be quantified, the individual risk of cancer induction depends on many factors, such as organ dose, sex and age; recent research has even shown that there is an important genetic variation in the sensitivity to ionising radiation.
It is known from the literature that advice, recommendation or encouragement from the personal physician can increase the likelihood of attendance of a certain examination [ 25- 27].
Certain examination findings, for example, CDR, were not being recorded by ophthalmic staff in the patient-held notes.
Along those lines, Ludwig Von Mises observed long ago that success in socialist countries wasn't based on one's human capacity, but was instead a function of "compliance with certain forms, the passing of certain examinations, attendance at certain schools".
Moreover, the 2006 WHO guidelines and a prior study insist that patients have the right to know why certain examinations and medication are administered to them [ 1, 25].
Many stated that they wanted to learn more about radiological examination techniques, preparation of patients and suitability of patients for certain examinations.
However, as the referral pattern for certain examinations may differ among different health care centres and reimbursement can significantly differ depending on the health policy of each country, it is not possible to provide general recommendations.
As radiologists, my team and I regularly call our referring physicians to ask why certain examinations have been ordered, and when medical records are available they are checked to ensure that the patient has not received the same or a similar examination in the recent past.
The exposed person needs to follow certain examinations, and if necessary pharmaceutical regimes.
Others were afraid of certain examinations (e.g. bronchial provocation) and did not know that it was possible to participate only in certain parts of the examinations.
In the imaging department, the reception, waiting room, the relationship with the various members of staff, the unpleasant nature of certain examinations, and especially apprehension concerning the results are all sources of anxiety.
