Ana M Grilo1,2, Lina Vieira3,4, Elisabete Carolino3, Melissa Costa5, Salomé Galaio5, Inês Melo5, Ana Geão6, Andrea Santos6, Paula Colarinha6. 1. H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal ana.grilo@estesl.ipl.pt. 2. CICPsi-Research Center for Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology, University of Lisbon, Portugal. 3. H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. 4. CIMOSM, ISEL-Centro de Investigação em Modelação e Optimização de Sistemas multifuncionais, Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. 5. Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; and. 6. Serviço de Medicina Nuclear, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal.
Abstract
Our objective was to assess the anxiety level in cancer patients undergoing nuclear medicine exams and to identify how professionals can improve patient experience. Methods: In total, 94 patients undergoing 99mTc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (99mTc-HDP) bone scintigraphy (BS) or 18F-FDG PET/CT completed 2 scan-experience questionnaires and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) before the scan and after image acquisition. Results: Before the exam, the mean anxiety levels were higher for the 99mTc-HDP BS group than for the 18F-FDG PET/CT group. After the exam, the opposite was true. Both groups experienced a reduction in anxiety after the scan (prescan score, 51.75 for 99mTc-HDP BS and 44.67 for 18F-FDG PET/CT; postscan score, 36.70 for 99mTc-HDP BS and 38.82 for 18F-FDG PET/CT). The greatest anxiety factor for the 99mTc-HDP BS group was the duration of the exam (mean ± SD, 5.34 ± 2.08), whereas for the 18F-FDG PET/CT group it was the result (5.40 ± 1.80). Conclusion: Patients undergoing nuclear medicine exams in an oncologic context had significant anxiety levels before and after their scans. However, 99mTc-HDP BS and 18F-FDG PET/CT had different triggers. It is of extreme importance that health-care professionals be aware of these peculiarities and adjust their procedures accordingly.
Our objective was to assess the anxiety level in cancerpatients undergoing nuclear medicine exams and to identify how professionals can improve patient experience. Methods: In total, 94 patients undergoing 99mTc-hydroxymethylene diphosphonate (99mTc-HDP) bone scintigraphy (BS) or 18F-FDG PET/CT completed 2 scan-experience questionnaires and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) before the scan and after image acquisition. Results: Before the exam, the mean anxiety levels were higher for the 99mTc-HDP BS group than for the 18F-FDG PET/CT group. After the exam, the opposite was true. Both groups experienced a reduction in anxiety after the scan (prescan score, 51.75 for 99mTc-HDP BS and 44.67 for 18F-FDG PET/CT; postscan score, 36.70 for 99mTc-HDP BS and 38.82 for 18F-FDG PET/CT). The greatest anxiety factor for the 99mTc-HDP BS group was the duration of the exam (mean ± SD, 5.34 ± 2.08), whereas for the 18F-FDG PET/CT group it was the result (5.40 ± 1.80). Conclusion:Patients undergoing nuclear medicine exams in an oncologic context had significant anxiety levels before and after their scans. However, 99mTc-HDP BS and 18F-FDG PET/CT had different triggers. It is of extreme importance that health-care professionals be aware of these peculiarities and adjust their procedures accordingly.
Authors: Kim Tam Bui; Roger Liang; Belinda E Kiely; Chris Brown; Haryana M Dhillon; Prunella Blinman Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2021-05-26 Impact factor: 2.692