SERAM launched several initiatives to become more visible to patients and the most important initiative was the development of InfoRadiología,
created as a patient space in our Radiology Society.
1.-What is InfoRadiologia?
Inforadiología is a Web page created by the SERAM (http://seram.es) that pursues familiarizing the public and the media with the radiologists’ invaluable role in medicine and healthcare,
as a webpage to bond both patients’ and radiologists’ interests and as a space to deal with questions of both patients and their families,
and to answer patients’ questions related to the techniques,
procedures and available radiological therapies.
All material on this site is monitored and approved by SERAM experts.
The InfoRadiologia web page is linked to the SERAM web page: (http://www.inforadiologia.org),
See video: https://youtu.be/2c0dpxFnrUE
InfoRadiologia follows the Health On the Net criteria and achieved the Accreditation (HONcode ID number: HONConduct995599)
2.- Introduction of InfoRadiologia to patients
This webpage was presented to patients in a meeting held in Madrid,
the 6th of February,
2014.
(http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=news&lang=es&idnew=400 de Google). Fig. 1.
SERAM wanted to explain to the patients the present role of Radiology.
InfoRadiologia enables patients and families to access reliable information and is supervised by medical specialists in issues as presented:
• The progress of diagnostic imaging.
• The role of radiologists in their illnesses.
• The different applications of imaging technologies (benefits for the patient,
availability,
associated risks ...)
• The information needed to be prepared and to perform a radiology exam (X-rays,
CT scans,
MRI,
....).
The participants in this meeting were:
- SERAM members: Dr Carmen Ayuso (SERAM president and radiologist at Hospital Clinic,
Barcelona),
Dr.
Javier Rodriguez-Recio (Communications Chair of SERAM, member on board of The Federation of Scientific Medical Associations Medical (FACME in spanish) and Head of the Radiology Department at General Hospital.
Segovia),
Dr.
Milagros Otero-Garcia (co-editor of the web page and social media networks: facebook and twitter and radiologist at Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela) and Dr.
Fátima Matute (SERAM´s secretary and radiologist at Hospital Clínico Universitario de Madrid).
- Ministry of Health: Jose Melquiades Ruiz-Olano (Technical advisor on Health Strategy Areas of the General Department of Quality Department) and Dr.
Ana Chacon (The deputy director of Patient Information of the Counseling of Health of the Autonomous Region of Madrid).
- Patient Associations: More than 12 patients’ associations participated in the debate.
Main conclusions of the meeting between patients and radiologists:
2.1 The information offered on the Internet is becoming ever more abundant but is often obsolete and from unknown untrustworthy sources.
The contribution of medical scientific societies,
as in this case SERAM in InfoRadiologia,
is important to provide reliable information.
2.2 Patients are demanding complete,
truthful and intelligible information.
The information enables the patient to decide with as much knowledge as possible.
The health professional should inform and guide patients to seek and complete all the information they need.
2.3 Health Administration,
the Ministry of Health Services and the different regional health authorities must support patient associations and provide access to trusted and easily accessible information,
guidelines and protocols and training programs for patients and families.
An affordable list of reference centres and clinical trials for diseases must be available.
2.4 It is necessary to standardize diagnostic and therapeutic criteria throughout the ambit of the National Health System.
Expert guidelines and protocols are not adequately disseminated.
Compliance with them is required.
2.5 Information should be directed not only to patients,
but to physicians (including radiologists) as well.
They must have the best knowledge available.
2.6 Radiology is a specialty based on technology and equipment.
Both require appropriate upgrade and maintenance.
Rapid incorporation of innovations has proven to be useful for professionals.
2.7 Patients know and value the importance of radiologists in the clinical process and demand greater accessibility to them for consultation.
Patients believe that platforms like InfoRadiologia can help,
but also demand a personal relationship with their radiologists.
2.8 There is a demand for more information on the possible risks of ionizing radiation and the use of contrast in diagnosis.
InfoRadiologia already provides this information but will keep expanding it.
2.9 It is an agreement on the coordinated use of the different websites and social networks to increase communication between associations,
and groups of patients with radiologists,
and to post (SERAM and patients) all this content on InfoRadiologia.
2.10 SERAM is committed to the dissemination of this information to patients’ associations,
radiologists,
health authorities,
media and other medical specialties through the Federation of Medical Science (FACME).
This meeting got huge coverage by Spanish media including national newspapers and TV:
- http://www.telecinco.es/informativos/sociedad/SERAM-InfoRadiologia-resolver-comunicacion-pacientes_0_1748250149.html
- http://noticias.lainformacion.com/salud/occidentales/seram-crea-inforadiologia-para-resolver-dudas-y-mejorar-la-fluidez-de-comunicacion-entre-pacientes-y-medicos_2FgfgwYpyy3ZxL5tIZDvV1/
- https://www.facebook.com/actualmedradiology/posts/1452637451620716
- http://www.consalud.es/seenews.php?id=9252
3.- Increasing our visibility campaign: What is your radiologist’s name?
InfoRadiologia supported several initiatives promoted by associations of patients and from SERAM to send information to radiologists,
radiographers,
non-radiologists doctors and patients such as “Don’t do recommendations”, a consensus document following Choosing Wisely initiative,
that includes some recommendations to avoid unnecessary studies to avoid radiation:
(http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=news&lang=es&idnew=424).
http://www.choosingwisely.org/.
Promoted Eurosafe Imaging publications: a consensus document
(www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=novedades&idnovedad.)
One of the most important initiatives was a campaign to increase radiologists’ visibility “What´s your radiologist’s name?” with these key points:
- A close and direct relationship with the patients to report on risks,
benefits and results of their tests is necessary.
- Patients have the right to know the name of the radiologist who reports their exams and image-guided procedures.
- Imaging is very important and is leading the future in medicine.
- Radiologists are physicians,
highly skilled specialists with an important role in our health.
The campaign was widely covered by media,
radio,
TV,
Industry web pages,
hospitals and also social media with the hashtag #miradiologo (“myradiologist”) on twitter.
Fig. 2.
- http://proteccion-radiologica.bayer.es/seram-e-inforadiologia-promueven-una-mayor-visibilidad-del-medico-radiologo/
- http://www.mallorcadiario.com/juaneda-se-une-la-campana-conoce-tu-radiologo
- http://cbseram.com/2014/10/14/miradiologo-se-llama-guillermo-como-se-llama-tu-radiologo/
- http://noticias.lainformacion.com/salud/occidentales/los-radiologos-inician-una-campana-de-informacion-sobre-las-ventajas-y-riesgos-de-las-pruebas-de-imagen-medica_yTsc6kfrc7Abwps1H3vwi1
- http://www.gacetamedica.com/noticias-medicina/2014-10-01/politica/los-radiologos-inician-una-campana-de-informacion-sobre-las-ventajas-y-riesgos-de-las-pruebas-de-imagen-medica/pagina.aspx?idart=864933
See youtube videos:
(https://youtu.be/KFnJm2Vg4XE),
(https://youtu.be/AxFXcHTtwwo?list=PLLVR1dgM4GqNoWlufxFtFOHcGUHePu67q)
4.- Information content in the InfoRadiologia webpage
When a patient accesses this site he/she gets radiological information and direct access to Facebook and Twitter.
Regarding radiological information content,
it is divided into these different links:
4.1 Radiology areas: seven different areas are described: abdominal,
musculoskeletal,
neuroradiology,
breast,
lung,
pediatrics,
vascular and interventional radiology. Each area contains information regarding the different radiology techniques used in every subspecialty ( http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=266).
4.2 Radiology techniques: all the radiology techniques available nowadays are described following these parameters: what’s the technique like,
what’s it used for,
patient preparation for the different techniques,
how does each technique work,
how is the different exploration performed with each technique,
benefits,
risks and limitations of each technique ( http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=321).
4.3 Radiology department staff: different types of personnel that work in a radiology department (radiologists,
radiographers,
nurses,
radiophysics,
nuclear medicine specialists,
clerks and paramedical personnel) are described,
so too the qualifications and studies needed to achieve each category ( http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=362 ).
4.4 Security: all information concerning risk management with contrast agents,
risk management in MRI,
and radiation.
It also includes all the dictated laws in the Spanish and European context on this field ( http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=416).
4.5 Information: information regarding new radiological advances,
consent forms,
documents of SERAM of interest to patients and frequent questions and answers about radiological examinations or techniques ( http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=375).
http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=404
4.6 Other recommended webs: links to other webs of interest to patients; Regional Health care governments,
radiology webs for patients such as the RSNA and ACR (www.radiologyinfo.org),
or Sociedad Argentina de Radiologia (www.holasoyradiologo.org).
4.7 About InfoRadiologia: it describes what InfoRadiologia is,
who makes and edits this webpage (SERAM members radiologists and SERAM subsections: Quality and Management,
Interventional and vascular,
Breast imaging,
Musculoskeletal,
neuroradiology sections) and some use warnings of the webpage (http://www.inforadiologia.org/modules.php?name=webstructure&lang=es&idwebstructure=368).
InfoRadiología also contains a link access to a glossary of radiological terms and definitions and access to send any question the patient wants to ask.
5.- InfoRadiología on Social Media
InfoRadiologia is present on social media networks as Twitter and Facebook.
Both pages were opened the 23rd of November 2013.
Co-editor Dr.
Milagros Otero-Garcia is in charge of these websites and posts the radiological and other medical information in Spanish and English that she considers to be important to InfoRadiologia followers (patients,
radiologists,
other doctors,
industry....).
SERAM also posts valuable information on the websites.
Information sources are SERAM,
other Medical Societies,
Newspapers (general and Health publications),
Industry publications,
Radiology Congresses,
Patients’ associations journals,
Health Ministers of the different countries,
EU Parliament,
etc.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inforadiologia
InfoRadiología Facebook page has reached a high media impact.
Its statistics are impressive: each week it receives an average of 400 likes on the information posted on the front page,
and a range of 500 people and an average of 40 people participate with comments on them. Facebook followers are mainly 24-54 year-old Spanish women (60%).
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inforadiologia
It has a large number of followers and retweets.
Twitter is more followed and used by Patients’ Associations and Industry members to follow our information and at the same time,
to send us theirs.
What kind of information is posted on Facebook and twitted/re-tweeted on Twitter?
Here are just a few examples of the posted information.
5.1 Presence of Radiology in a personalized and patient-centered medicine Fig. 3.
5.2 Radiation doses and special issues such as radiation doses in pediatric population.
5.3 Prevention and recommendation measures we can promote as radiologists and images of educational value for patients as popular science
Fig. 4.
5.4 Information on radiology examinations regarding preparation for radiology studies,
equipment… Fig. 5.
5.5 All the technical advances in Radiology equipment,
publications of the industry and the effects of the global crisis on our equipment replacement.
5.6 The new advances in diagnosis presented in radiology congresses.
5.7 Patients’ Associations information,
industry or other Medical Societies news,
to share and spread with radiologists,
patients and other physicians Fig. 6.
5.8 Radiology throughout our history.
5.9 As a social network it is also a social meeting point,
where you can see parties and celebrations congratulating our patients and supporters in general Fig. 7.