Purpose: To investigate two different breath-hold techniques, in terms of patient experience and image quality, and describe patients' experiences of magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods and Materials: Thirty patients referred for an MRI of the liver conducted two separate breath-hold acquisitions in a randomised order, radiographer-directed and patient-initiated. Semi-structured interviews were held and analysed, and images were reviewed according to image quality.

Results: The patients' general experiences of the MRI were that they felt a loss of control, and almost half of the patients seemed to prefer the self-initiated breath-hold. About 20 % of the patients preferred to hand over the responsibility to the radiographer, and for some the technique did not matter.The patients empathized in general the importance of achieving the best image quality. There were no significant differences identified between the two breath-hold techniques, in regards to image quality.

Conclusion: The results show that self-initiated breath-hold acquisitions can be seen as a new alternative worth considering in clinical MRI since it is appreciated by the patients and give similar image quality compared to conventional breath-hold acquisitions. It also offers a possibility to achieve some control over the situation.