Nuclear medicine technologists practice impacted by AI denoising applications in PET/CT images.

PURPOSE: Artificial intelligence (AI) in positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) can be used to improve image quality when it is useful to reduce the injected activity or the acquisition time. Particular attention must be paid to ensure that users adopt this technological innovation when outcomes can be improved by its use. The aim of this study was to identify the aspects that need to be analysed and discussed to implement an AI denoising PET/CT algorithm in clinical practice, based on the representations of Nuclear Medicine Technologists (NMT) from Western-Switzerland, highlighting the barriers and facilitators associated. METHODS: Two focus groups were organised in June and September 2023, involving ten voluntary participants recruited from all types of medical imaging departments, forming a diverse sample of NMT. The interview guide followed the first stage of the revised model of Ottawa of Research Use. A content analysis was performed following the three-stage approach described by Wanlin. Ethics cleared the study. RESULTS: Clinical practice, workload, knowledge and resources were de 4 themes identified as necessary to be thought before implementing an AI denoising PET/CT algorithm by ten NMT participants (aged 31-60), not familiar with this AI tool. The main barriers to implement this algorithm included workflow challenges, resistance from professionals and lack of education; while the main facilitators were explanations and the availability of support to ask questions such as a "local champion". CONCLUSION: To implement a denoising algorithm in PET/CT, several aspects of clinical practice need to be thought to reduce the barriers to its implementation such as the procedures, the workload and the available resources. Participants emphasised also the importance of clear explanations, education, and support for successful implementation. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: To facilitate the implementation of AI tools in clinical practice, it is important to identify the barriers and propose strategies that can mitigate it.

Approaches to reduce medical imaging departments' environmental impact: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Global warming stands as a paramount public health issue of our time, and it is fundamental to explore approaches to green medical imaging departments/(MID). This study aims to map the existing actions in the literature that promote sustainable development in MID towards the promotion of environmental impact reduction. METHODS: Following the JBI methodology and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), this literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL to encompass studies published after 2013. Combinations of keywords and relevant terms related to environmental sustainability, recycling, medical waste, and greening radiology were applied for this review. Three independent reviewers screened abstracts, titles, and eligible full-text. Disagreement was solved through consensus. RESULTS: 38 out of 4630 articles met all inclusion criteria, and four additional articles were identified and added through reference search. A third of the studies included were published after 2022, and most were conducted in developed countries (36/41). Articles focused on computed tomography (9/41), magnetic resonance imaging (6/41), interventional radiology (4/41), conventional radiography (4/41), ultrasound (2/41), mixed modalities (10/41), or not applicable to an imaging modality (6/41). Four principal categories were identified to decrease ecological footprint: energy consumption, waste management, justification and environmental pollution. CONCLUSION: To minimise the environmental impact of MIDs raising awareness and promoting education is fundamental. Examinations must be justified adequately, energy consumption must be reduced, and waste management practices need to be implemented. Further studies are required to prioritise the most effective strategies, supporting decision-making among stakeholders. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Several strategies are already possible to implement to reduce the environmental impact of MIDs and improve the healthcare outcomes for patients.

A scoping review of person-centred care strategies used in diagnostic Nuclear Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Person-centred care (PCC) emphasises the need for the health care professional to prioritise individual patient needs, thereby fostering a collaborative and emphatic environment that empowers patients to actively participate in their own care. This article will explore the purpose of PCC in Nuclear Medicine (NM), while discussing strategies that may be used to implement PCC during diagnostic NM examinations performed on adult patients. METHODS: The scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The search was performed on PubMed, Embase and Cinhal in June 2023 and included studies in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. The research equation combined keywords and Medical Subject Heading terms (MeSH) related to person-centred care (PCC), for all types of nuclear medicine diagnostic examinations performed. Three independent review authors screened all abstracts and titles, and all eligible full-text publications were included in this scoping review. RESULTS: Fifty-three articles, published between 1993 and 2022, met the inclusion criteria for this scoping review. Seven articles were published in 2015 while 56.6 % of all included studies were performed in Europe. Most studies (n = 39/53) focused on the patients only, with the identified patient benefits being: improve patient experience (67.9 %), increase patient comfort (13.2 %), increase patient knowledge (5.7 %), reduction of patient anxiety (9.4 %) and reduction of waiting/scan time (3.8 %). CONCLUSION: The scoping review identified a lack of research investigating the use of person-centred care strategies in NM. Future research will focus on using an international survey to explore this topic in nuclear medicine departments overseas. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: By applying PCC principles, the NM professional can improve the patient care pathway and increase patient satisfaction, leading to enhanced clinical outcomes.