Communication strategies in medical imaging departments for autistic patients. A systematic review exploring person-centred care practices

This publication is included in the Autistic Autism Scholarship Project. one author of this publication is identified as autistic in the project.

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Ukaji, N., Malamateniou, C., Potts, B., Meertens, R., & Skelton, E. (2026). Communication strategies in medical imaging departments for autistic patients. A systematic review exploring person-centred care practices. Radiography, 32(7), Article 103574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radi.2026.103574

Publication date: 1 Oct 2026 Added to AutiHub: 7 Oct 2026 Type: Article Article language: English
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Authors

Publication authors
5
Publication authors identified as autistic
1 / 5 (20.0%)
  1. N. Ukaji
  2. C. Malamateniou
  3. B. Potts *
  4. R. Meertens
  5. E. Skelton

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Communication barriers are one of the major contributors to inaccessible healthcare for autistic people. Literature highlights the need for autism-informed care in medical imaging settings, but evidence on communication interventions in imaging is limited. This review aimed to synthesise communication interventions used in imaging departments to support autistic service users' accessibility to imaging. METHODS: The protocol was registered on PROSPERO and followed PRISMA guidelines. Literature searches were performed across six databases using keywords such as "medical imag∗", "communication strateg∗", "Autis∗", and "improv∗ access∗". In total, 5531 articles were screened by title and abstract, with 26 full-text articles reviewed against pre-determined eligibility criteria. Six studies were included in the review. Risk of bias was assessed using relevant CASP tools. Studies were synthesised using the Pillar Integration Process. RESULTS: Most interventions were explored in an MRI setting (n = 3) and paediatric population (n = 5). Common interventions included picture schedules, at-home procedural videos, and iPad app social scripts. Three central themes were developed: 1) employing flexible approaches to communication can foster acceptance; 2) optimising communication can improve patients/caregivers' imaging experience, and 3) defining positive outcomes requires a balance of patients' perspectives and quantitative results. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that flexible, multimodal approaches to communication adjustments can meaningfully improve imaging experiences and scan completion rates for autistic individuals. It highlighted the importance of co-production studies and the need for adequately powered, more inclusive research to improve generalisability and transferability across a wide range of imaging modalities. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Further research on communication interventions for autistic adults is necessary to enhance imaging accessibility for this population. Imaging-specific guidelines are required to ensure standardised practice and better care experiences for autistic people.

Bibliography cited by this reference

Cited references are imported from external metadata sources when they are available. The list may be partial.

Cited bibliography overview

These indicators describe the bibliography cited by this publication. An author name is counted each time it appears in one cited reference, so the same person can be counted more than once. Names not yet linked to an author already present in AutiHub are treated as unknown, not as non-autistic. Last computed: 23 Oct 2026 07:45.

Cited references
48
With a DOI
32
Without a DOI, from raw bibliography text
16
9 / 48 (18.8%) cited references include at least one author identified as autistic.
References with data to complete
8 / 48 (16.7%)
References with detected author names
40 / 48 (83.3%)
Without detected author names
8
Without a structured title
0
Without a stable identifier
16
References with raw author names still to review
0
References with external metadata lookup issues
0
These indicators apply to cited references displayed on this page, after technical duplicates have been merged. A reference without a DOI can still support author statistics when a title and author names are available.
Author names detected in the cited bibliography
208
From DOI or external metadata
208
From validated raw bibliography text
0
Raw names already validated
0
Raw names still to review
0
100 / 208 (48.1%) names are linked to an author already present in AutiHub. 108 / 208 (51.9%) names are not yet linked.
Names linked to a person identified as autistic
21 / 208 (10.1%)
Calculated across all author names detected in the cited bibliography. Among names linked to an author already present in AutiHub: 21 / 100 (21.0%). Distinct people identified as autistic: 16 / 174 (9.2%).
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