Response of patients to the introduction of a private Magnetic Resonance Imaging service in Western Jamaica

BACKGROUND: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of today's fastest growing imaging modalities, spurred in part by rapid advances in technology and important new applications in patient care. It was introduced in Western Jamaica in March 2005 at a non-hospital-based facility called North Coast Imaging MRI Service. AIMS: The study examined the socio-demographics, accessibility and affordability of the services to patients. MATERIALS AND METHOD: A random sample of 100 patients was used and the research instrument was a questionnaire. The study was conducted between August and November 2008. RESULTS: The findings of the study showed that majority of the respondents lived in rural areas and were within the age group 30 - 59 years. One-half of the respondents resided in St. James, were employed; earned more than US$1,351.00 per month and could afford the cost of the MRI procedure. More than one half of the respondents indicated that it took 15 – 30 minutes to be examined after arrival at the Centre; most (81%) of the respondents indicated that the MRI procedure was adequately explained, and 99% indicated that questions about the procedure were satisfactorily answered. The MRI Scans performed at the North Coast Imaging MRI Service showed an increase of 157.49% in 2006 when compared with 2005, and 70.90% in 2007 when compared with 2006. Our findings suggest that the number of MRI scans done at the North Coast Imaging MRI Service is likely to increase. CONCLUSION: Although most of the respondents were able to afford the procedure there are concerns about persons in the lower socio-economic group who are unable to afford expensive diagnostic imaging tests such as MRI scans. There is an urgent need for government-owned hospital-based MRI Units in Jamaica to offer lower cost MRI scans to the public.