OSCE revision: Explaining an MRI scan

Introduction

 

Introduction

• Introduce and identify yourself
• Patient's full name, age, date of birth and preferred name
• Obtain consent to interview

 

Understanding

• Take brief history
• Ascertain if patient knows what an MRI scan is and why it is needed

 

Concerns

• Elicit concerns based on pre-conceived ideas
 

 

Explaining

 

MRI scan

•  Clarify what an MRI scan is
• "It stands for magnetic resonance imaging and is a non-invasive way of getting pictures of the human body. The process uses a magnetic field to obtain accurate pictures of an area and does no involve X-rays."

 

Procedure

• Allowed to eat and drink freely before
• Placed into a large tube
• May feel claustrophobic
• Painless procedure
• About 30 minutes (longer can be up to an hour)
• Noisy, but will be provided with earplugs
• Will be left alone in the room but will interact with operators through intercom
• May need IV contrast (harmless dye), and check for allergies

 

Safety

• Extremely safe
• No risk of repeated exposure unlike CT, since X-rays are not involved 

 

Risks

• Check that there are no contraindications (metallic parts)
• No pacemakers, surgical clips, metallic fragments in eyes (CT to confirm absence if in question) or metallic heart valves unless otherwise certified

 

 

Closing up

 

Understanding

•  Check whether the patient has understood what had been explained

 

Questions

• Encourage the patient to ask questions and deal with them appropriately
• Ask about concerns

 

Summary

•  Summarise everything

 

Consent

•  Take consent

 

Respond

•  Acknowledge patient's feelings and react positively to them

 

 

Adapted from: MasterPass