Overview
The implementation of the AI-assisted radiology summary tool into clinical workflows is being conducted as part of a standard-of-care quality improvement (QI) initiative at UW Health. The evaluation of this tool's impact via structured feedback from patients and providers is being undertaken as a prospective research study.
Description
Patient groups: Mixed-method approach to evaluate patient understanding of, and anxiety about, imaging results and communication experience regarding the results before and after implementation of AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging report summaries that accompany the imaging results.
Provider group: Quasi-experimental staircase approach to sequentially roll out the tool to three provider cohorts. All hematology/oncology and gynecology oncology attending providers will be randomized by disease group into three relatively similar-sized cohorts based on group-level scan volumes, regardless of individual provider characteristics or communication style. Subsequent cohorts will be added every two months.
Surveys will be the main method of feedback collection at baseline and after implementation of the AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging report summaries. Interviews will be conducted in a small subset of subjects.
Primary Objective:
- To evaluate patient comprehension of, and anxiety about, imaging results and communication experience regarding the results before and after implementation of AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging report summaries that accompany the imaging results.
Secondary Objective(s):
- Patient Baseline Survey Objective: To evaluate comprehension of, and anxiety about, imaging results and communication experience regarding the results before the implementation of the AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging report summaries that accompany the imaging results.
- Patient Summary Feedback Survey Objective: To evaluate comprehension of, and anxiety about, imaging results and communication experience regarding the results after the implementation of the AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging report summaries that accompany the imaging results.
- Patient Interview Objectives: To understand the imaging result communication process from the patient's perspective.
- Provider Surveys Objective: The Baseline Survey will assess communication habits and preferences (frequency, method, timing), and perceived impact of the AI-Assisted, Patient-Friendly Imaging Report Summaries on clinical workload, and the Post-Implementation Surveys will evaluate changes in workload perception, satisfaction with the AI-Assisted, Patient-Friendly Imaging Report Summaries, the effectiveness of scan result communication with patients, and attitudes toward the use of AI-assisted material in patient care.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria (Patient Participants):
- Age 18 years or older
- Having a current or prior cancer diagnosis (any cancer type)
- Has active access to the UW Health MyChart patient portal.
- Receiving care at UW Health within the Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care or Department of Gynecologic Oncology.
- Undergoing imaging studies (such as CT, MRI, or PET scans) as part of routine cancer care.
- Willing and able to complete electronic REDCap surveys.
- For interview participation: willing to participate in a 30-45-minute phone or video interview.
Inclusion Criteria (Provider Participants): Cancer care providers will be eligible to participate in this study if they meet all of the following criteria:
- Faculty physician (MD or DO) practicing in the Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care or Department of Gynecologic Oncology at UW Health.
- Involved in reviewing, discussing, or sharing imaging results with patients.
- Planned to gain access to the AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging summary tool as part of clinical implementation.
- Willing and able to complete electronic surveys or participate in a brief interview (\~30 minutes).
Exclusion Criteria (Patients):
- Are unable to provide informed consent due to cognitive impairment or other limitations, as determined by the clinical or study team.
- Enrolled in an active interventional clinical trial. Patients on biospecimen, registry, or non-interventional studies are eligible.
- For the Patient Interview group only: Patients with radiographic disease progression will be excluded.
