What can be employed to reduce patient motion while maintaining proper image receptor exposure with automatic exposure control (AEC)?

Increasing the milliamperage setting is an effective way to reduce patient motion while maintaining proper image receptor exposure with automatic exposure control (AEC). By increasing the milliamperage, the amount of radiation produced per unit of time is enhanced, resulting in a shorter exposure time necessary to achieve the desired image receptor exposure. This shorter exposure time is crucial because it minimizes the likelihood of motion artifacts caused by patient movement during the imaging process.

When a higher milliamperage is used, it does not inherently compromise the overall image quality or patient safety, as long as the exposure parameters remain within acceptable limits. This approach is particularly beneficial in situations where patients may have difficulty remaining still or are prone to involuntary motion.

Other options may not provide the same benefit in terms of balancing exposure duration and image quality. For instance, decreased exposure time might indeed help reduce motion blur, but without adjusting milliamperage appropriately, it's possible that the image may not achieve adequate exposure, leading to poor diagnostic quality. Lower kilovolt peak (kVp) settings can result in increased contrast but may not effectively enhance the exposure time needed for a clear image. Higher grid ratios can improve image quality by reducing scatter radiation but are not directly related to patient motion management.