Audiovisual intervention alleviates anxiety of patients during PET/CT imaging

Abstract

Aim to assess if the use of an audiovisual intervention in the uptake room and/or in the scanning room, could help to reduce anxiety during [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging.

Methods We prospectively studied 120 patients referred for [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging. Patients were allocated in 4 groups of 30 patients depending on the use of the audiovisual intervention: (1) no audiovisual intervention; (2) audiovisual intervention only in the uptake room; (3) audiovisual intervention only in the scanning room; (4) audiovisual intervention in the uptake and the scanning rooms. In order to measure the anxiety levels of the patients before and after the scan, all patients answered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results The anxiety status across typical situations on a daily basis (STAI-T) of the 4 groups of patients was comparable with no significant differences. The mean State Anxiety (STAI-S) sum-score at prescan and postscan among groups was: (1) 17.5±8.7 vs. 17.3±8.6, p=0.834; (2) 17.4±10.5 vs. 15.8±9.6, p=0.110; (3) 17.5±11.7 vs. 15.1±9.8, p= 0.013; (4) 17.4±9.7 vs. 14.9±8.1, p= 0.009. The percentage of patients with reduction of the STAI-S score among groups 1–4 was 17%, 47%, 50%, and 66%, respectively. The variation of the percentage of patients with lower scores after intervention among groups was statistically significant (p<0.001).

Conclusion Audiovisual intervention decreases anxiety levels of patients referred for PET/CT imaging. The results of our study support a beneficial effect of the audiovisual intervention and its potential to alleviate the anxiety of oncological patients who undergo a PET/CT scan.

Zusammenfassung

Ziel Bewertung, ob der Einsatz der audiovisuellen Intervention im Sprechzimmer und/oder im Untersuchungsraum dazu beitragen könnte, die Angst während der [18F]FDG-PET/CT-Bildgebung zu reduzieren.

Methoden Wir untersuchten prospektiv 120 Patienten, die zur [18F]FDG-PET/CT-Bildgebung überwiesen wurden. Die Patienten wurden je nach Einsatz der audiovisuellen Intervention in 4 Gruppen von 30 Patienten eingeteilt: (1) keine audiovisuelle Intervention, (2) audiovisuelle Intervention nur im Sprechzimmer, (3) audiovisuelle Intervention nur im Untersuchungsraum, (4) audiovisuelle Intervention im Sprechzimmer und im Untersuchungsraum. Um das Angstniveau der Patienten vor und nach der Untersuchung zu messen, beantworteten alle Patienten das State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Ergebnisse Der Angststatus in typischen Alltagssituationen (STAI-T) der 4 Patientengruppen war vergleichbar und wies keine signifikanten Unterschiede auf. Der mittlere State-Anxiety (STAI-S) -Summenwert vor der Untersuchung im Vergleich zu danach betrug in den Gruppen: (1) 17,5 ± 8,7 vs. 17,3 ± 8,6, p=0,834; (2) 17,4 ± 10,5 vs. 15,8 ± 9,6, p=0,110; (3) 17,5 ± 11,7 vs. 15,1 ± 9,8, p=0,013; (4) 17,4 ± 9,7 vs. 14,9 ± 8,1, p=0,009. Der Prozentsatz der Patienten mit Reduktion des STAI-S-Scores betrug in den Gruppen 1–4 17% (1), 47% (2), 50% (3) bzw. 66% (4). Der prozentuale Anteil der Patienten mit niedrigeren Werten nach der Intervention war zwischen den Gruppen statistisch signifikant (p<0,001).

Schlussfolgerung Die audiovisuelle Intervention verringert das Angstniveau von Patienten, die zur PET/CT-Bildgebung überwiesen werden. Die Ergebnisse unserer Studie belegen eine positive Wirkung der audiovisuellen Intervention und ihr Potenzial, die Ängste von onkologischen Patienten, die sich einer PET/CT-Untersuchung unterziehen, zu lindern.

Schlüsselwörter

PET/CT - audiovisuelle Intervention - Angst - STAI-Test

Keywords

PET/CT - audiovisual intervention - anxiety - STAI test

Publication History

Received: 20 September 2021

Accepted after revision: 22 January 2022

Article published online:
05 August 2022

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