AI-assisted, patient-friendly imaging report summaries to improve communication of cancer imaging results
Implementing AI-Assisted, Patient-Friendly Imaging Report Summaries to Enhance Oncology Care Delivery
This project will try AI-written, easy-to-understand summaries of scan results for adults with current or past cancer who get imaging at UW Health to see if they help patients understand results and feel less anxious.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 2000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Madison, Wisconsin) |
| Trial ID | NCT07532083 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
UW Health is rolling out an AI-assisted tool that generates patient-friendly summaries alongside routine radiology reports for oncology patients as part of a quality-improvement initiative. The rollout to hematology/medical oncology and gynecologic oncology providers uses a quasi-experimental staircase design, adding provider cohorts every two months. Patient and provider feedback is collected prospectively using baseline and post-implementation surveys, with in-depth interviews in a small subset. The mixed-methods approach compares patient comprehension, anxiety, and communication experience before and after implementation.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) with a current or prior cancer who receive imaging at UW Health, have active MyChart access, and can complete electronic REDCap surveys are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients without portal access, those who do not read electronic summaries, or those whose results require immediate clinician interpretation may not benefit from the summaries.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may better understand their imaging results, experience less anxiety, and have clearer conversations with their oncology clinicians.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior work on patient-friendly radiology reporting has shown improved understanding and satisfaction, but AI-generated summaries are relatively novel and evidence remains limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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.
Where this trial is running
Madison, Wisconsin
- UW Health — Madison, Wisconsin, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Hamid Emamekhoo, MD — UW School of Medicine and Public Health
- Study coordinator: Supportive Oncology
- Email: supportiveoncology@uwcarbone.wisc.edu
- Phone: 608-263-6002
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.