RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF IV-CONTRAST MATERIAL - ANALYSIS OF PATIENTS AWARENESS

OBJECTIVE. Opinions differ on the need to obtain informed consent for IV administration of contrast material. If the potential risks are com mon knowledge among most patients, the need for informed consent is re duced. The purpose of this study was to assess patients' baseline know ledge of the risks associated with use of IV contrast material. SUBJEC TS AND METHODS. This study included 150 consecutive outpatients who ha d radiographic studies (CT or excretory urography) requiring use of IV contrast material. Before the procedure, patients were asked to compl ete a 10-question questionnaire assessing their understanding of the r isks associated with the use of contrast material. Questions concerned the nature of their test and the reasons for and risks of contrast ma terial. Analysis was done with Fisher's exact chi(2)-test of associati on and Wilcoxon's two-sample test. RESULTS. On average, the patients p erformed significantly better on this questionnaire than if they had r andomly picked each answer, indicating that the average patient has ac quired some information about IV contrast material. However, the mean score was 51%, demonstrating that the average patient is not knowledge able about all risks associated with the use of IV contrast material. We found no differences associated with sex or age. Patients with more than a high school level of education and who had previously received contrast material scored better, although they still correctly answer ed only 56% and 54% of the questions, respectively. CONCLUSION. Inform ation about the risks associated with use of IV contrast material cann ot be considered common knowledge among the general population of pati ents.