• Monica L Zigman Suchsland, Victoria Hardy, Ying Zhang, Patrick D Vigil, Kimberly L Collins, William M Woodhouse, Roger Chou, Steven D Findlay, Danielle C Lavallee, and Matthew J Thompson.
• From the Department of Family Medicine (MLZS, VH, YZ, KLC, MJT), Surgical Outcomes Research Center, Department of Surgery, (DCL) of the University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Community Health Care, Tacoma, WA (PDV); Family Medicine Residency, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho (WMW); Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon (RC); Independent health policy researcher and consumer advocate (SDF). mzigman@uw.edu.
• J Am Board Fam Med. 2019 May 1; 32 (3): 392-397.

BackgroundImaging tests are a widely used tool in primary care with many known benefits. Without an understanding of which outcomes matter the most to patients, clinicians are challenged to balance the benefits and harms of imaging tests. This study aimed to explore the perceived impacts imaging tests have on patients from the perspective of the primary care providers (PCPs) and determine PCPs' understanding of patient-centered outcomes (PCOs) from imaging tests.MethodsRecruitment of PCPs occurred at 4 family medicine clinics in Washington and Idaho. Primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants who order imaging tests were eligible to participate. Semistructured interviews explored providers' perceptions of patient experiences during the process of ordering, performing and following up on imaging tests. Classic content analysis generated themes and subthemes.ResultsSixteen PCPs, including 11 physicians, 3 physician assistants, and 2 nurse practitioners, completed interviews. Two themes were identified: 1) perceived PCOs, and 2) factors influencing the incorporation of PCOs into clinical management. Perceived outcomes included emotions related to the answer a test provides and costs to the patient such as monetary, physical, and added risk. Patient expectations, provider-patient communication, and inadequate knowledge all contributed as barriers to incorporating PCOs into clinical management.DiscussionPCPs recognize different outcomes of imaging tests that they consider important for patients. While providers are perceptive to patient outcomes there remains a challenge to how patient outcomes are used to improve care. Communication with patients and improving provider knowledge are needed to incorporate identified PCOs.© Copyright 2019 by the American Board of Family Medicine.

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