Over 70% of cancer patients experience clinically significant scanxiety, survey says
Over 70% of cancer patients experience clinically significant scanxiety, according to new survey data published Wednesday.
Such medical imaging angst is becoming increasingly common within radiologic practice, referring to the series of unfavorable emotional responses experienced before, during or after an exam. Pakistani radiology researchers recently sought to measure the prevalence of such scanxiety, sharing their findings in the American medical journal of Clinical Imaging.
Across more than 400 patients polled, 71.2% exhibited significant scanxiety, with 60.1% scoring higher than 8 (on a range of 0-21) on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Scan-to-result wait time was associated with increased odds of experiencing imaging anxiety, along with advanced disease stage and prior scans.
“This prospective longitudinal study demonstrates that scanxiety represents a substantial clinical challenge affecting over 70 % of cancer patients undergoing routine oncologic imaging,” Mohammad Sibtain Shah, with the Department of Oncology at Peoples University of Medical and Health Sciences For Women, Nawabshah, Pakistan, and co-authors wrote Oct. 8. “The prevalence of clinically significant scanxiety substantially exceeds previously reported estimates and represents a clinically meaningful burden requiring systematic intervention.”
The study enrolled 406 adult cancer patients undergoing routine CT, MRI or PET/CT at a single hospital. Participants completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire and other tests before and after the exam. Additional examinations helped to assess other issues contributing to anxiety. Patient concern typically peaked during the period they waited for results from the imaging exam, the study found.
“Modifiable factors including communication quality, information provision, and social support significantly reduce scanxiety risk, offering evidence-based intervention targets,” the authors concluded. “Healthcare systems should implement structured protocols addressing these factors to improve patient experience and clinical outcomes during oncologic imaging.”
Read much more, including potential study limitations, in Clinical Imaging.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.