Effects of explanatory information on parental intentions regarding child participation in thyroid ultrasound examinations after the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident: a questionnaire survey

The purpose of this study was to clarify how parental willingness to allow child participation in thyroid ultrasound examinations (TUE) changed after reading about the merits and demerits of TUE. This study was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. A total of 2,200 parents and guardians, who had children <18 years old, were included in the final analysis. First, basic characteristics of parental participants and willingness to allow child participation in TUE were assessed (pre-survey). Second, parental participants read an explanation about the merits and demerits of TUE. Third, the understandability of the explanation and intention regarding child participation in TUE were assessed (post-survey). The primary outcome was the change in willingness for child participation in TUE after reading the explanation about the merits and demerits. After reading the explanation, the number of parents in both the "yes" and "no" groups decreased, while the numbers in the "up to the child" and "undecidable" groups increased. This trend was especially prominent among parental participants who were previously unaware of the merits and demerits. Among those who changed their willingness from "yes" to "up to the child" or "undecidable," the proportion was higher in the group that had not known about the merits and demerits than the group that had known (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.76 (1.32-2.34) and 2.97 (1.87-4.71), respectively). Repeated dissemination of information about the merits and demerits of TUE is necessary to support appropriate decision-making.