The psychological impact of the rapid diagnostic centres in cancer screening: A systematic review

Singh, Mina; Maheu, Christine; Brady, Teresa J.; Farah, Rachel

doi:10.5737/23688076274348355

Cited by 8 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…By focusing on the specific needs of each patient, nurses working in RDC can be invaluable in assisting women to cope with the uncertain experience and the highly anxious waiting period of rapid testing. Nurses can teach coping and relaxation skills such as positive reframing, facilitate communication with other professionals on the healthcare team and provide procedural support to help decrease short-term anxiety in women undergoing further cancer tests (5,6,12,30,31). The integration of a nurse navigator in an RDC to reduce anxiety and increase satisfaction has been discussed positively in the literature (12,32,33).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Pre-diagnostic anxiety is also observed to be a strong predictor of post-diagnostic anxiety that can negatively influence treatment outcomes in women with breast malignancies and lead to unfavourable behavioural changes in women with benign disease (3,5). However, although the diagnostic phase can be marked with intense emotional distress, this phase is often overlooked in research (2,(10)(11)(12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, for the few studies that have investigated the psychological impact of rapid diagnostic testing for breast cancer, the consensus remains unclear as to what are its effects on patient anxiety, uncertainty, and stress (2, 3, 14-16) although current longitudinal evidence is pointing towards a positive association between symptomatic breast disease and psychological distress (3,5,17). In addition, there is limited information on whether receiving psychological support during the rapid diagnostic process is needed and if so, in what forms (12). The objectives of this study were to address these outstanding gaps by measuring and describing the levels of anxiety and uncertainty as experienced by women undergoing rapid diagnostic testing for a suspicious breast abnormality before and after testing and by exploring women's expressed needs for support during the diagnostic period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding Women’s Anxiety and Uncertainty attending a Rapid Diagnostic Clinic for Suspicious Breast Abnormality: A Mixed Methods Study

Maheu¹,

B²,

Wang³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Background: Rapid diagnostic centres (RDC) for breast abnormality offer a speedier process from the discovery of a suspicious breast lump to same-day investigation and confirmation of a breast cancer diagnosis. Study purpose: We aim to assess the anxiety and uncertainty levels of women going through an RDC and explore women's needs for support during the diagnostic period. Methods:Thirteen women who attended an RDC in 2014 took part in a sequential mixed-method study to assess anxiety and uncertainty levels. Measures were taken at pre and post-testing, at three weeks following receipt of results followed by a semi-structured telephone interview. Results: The mixed data results mainly showed congruence between women scoring high on anxiety and uncertainty levels and their detailed descriptions of the experience as stressful. Overall, uncertainty and anxiety levels were above the clinical threshold while awaiting further testing. These levels remained high only for the subgroup found with cancer and remained high at the three-week mark. As for the benign group, anxiety was above cut-off before diagnosis (n=6), decreased to below clinical cut-off three days following diagnosis (n=0), and increased again above cut-off three weeks post-diagnosis (n=2).Discussion and Conclusion: While speedier testing may reduce waiting times to obtain further tests, results suggest that the period leading up to the day of testing is anxiety-provoking and marked with intense uncertainty. Results suggest the potential role of nurses to support waiting for patients with education and resources. These results illustrate the need for further investigation into psychological support options at RDCs. BackgroundDuring the diagnostic period, after a breast lump is discovered or a mammogram displays suspicious findings, women experience significant psychological distress including anxiety, uncertainty, and symptoms of acute stress reaction (1-4). A systematic review of thirty research studies with large sample sizes examining the presence of anxiety levels in the diagnostic period for women with suspected with breast cancer found that on average, there were 8-50% that experienced high levels of anxiety (5). The high anxiety was also found to persist throughout the diagnostic evaluation until certitude was achieved through the establishment of the definitive diagnosis (6). Such high levels of

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Understanding Women’s Anxiety and Uncertainty attending a Rapid Diagnostic Clinic for Suspicious Breast Abnormality: A Mixed Methods Study

Maheu¹,

B²,

Wang³

et al. 2019

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Pre-diagnostic anxiety is also observed to be a strong predictor of post-diagnostic anxiety that can negatively in uence treatment outcomes in women with breast malignancies and lead to unfavourable behavioural changes in women with benign disease (3,5). However, although the diagnostic phase can be marked with intense emotional distress, this phase is often overlooked in research (2,(10)(11)(12).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, for the few studies that have investigated the psychological impact of rapid diagnostic testing for breast cancer, the consensus remains unclear as to what are its effects on patient anxiety, uncertainty, and stress (2,3,(14)(15)(16) although current longitudinal evidence is pointing towards a positive association between symptomatic breast disease and psychological distress (3,5,17). In addition, there is limited information on whether receiving psychological support during the rapid diagnostic process is needed and if so, in what forms (12). The objectives of this study were to address these outstanding gaps by measuring and describing the levels of anxiety and uncertainty as experienced by women undergoing rapid diagnostic testing for a suspicious breast abnormality before and after testing and by exploring women's expressed needs for support during the diagnostic period.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Women’s Anxiety and Uncertainty attending a Rapid Diagnostic Clinic for Suspicious Breast Abnormality: A Mixed Methods Study

Maheu¹,

Lord²,

Wang³

et al. 2022

McGill J Med

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Background: Rapid diagnostic centres (RDC) for breast abnormality offer a speedier process from the discovery of a suspicious breast lump to same-day investigation and confirmation of a breast cancer diagnosis. Study purpose: This proof of concept study aimed to assess the anxiety and uncertainty levels of women going through an RDC and explore women's need for support during the diagnostic period. Methods: Thirteen women who attended an RDC in 2013 took part in a sequential mixed-method study to assess anxiety and uncertainty levels. Measures were taken pre-and post-testing, at three weeks following receipt of results, and were followed by a semi-structured telephone interview. Results: The mixed data results show congruency between women scoring above clinical values for anxiety and above normative values for uncertainty and detailing their RDC experience as stressful. At pre-diagnosis, uncertainty and anxiety levels were above clinical and normative values for the majority of the thirteen women. Among the women who received a cancer diagnosis (7/13), five had high anxiety, and two scored above normative values for uncertainty. Among the women with a benign diagnosis (6/13), all had anxiety scores below clinical levels, and three had scores above normative values for uncertainty. Anxiety and uncertainty levels remained relatively the same from the three days to three weeks post-testing. The women suggested the need to receive details of the day's unfolding, especially what medical procedures will take place, how, and why, and in advance of the day of testing. Conclusion: While RDCs offer women with a suspicious breast lump the opportunity for quicker diagnostic testing, preliminary results suggest that the period leading up to the day of testing and three days and three weeks post-testing is marked with anxiety and uncertainty levels above clinical and normative values. The results illustrate the need for further inquiry into the psychological impact of obtaining testing at RDCs for a breast abnormality. Results suggest a potential role for nurses to support the waiting period with psycho-educational guidance and resources.

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One-Stop MRI and MRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion-guided biopsy: an expedited pathway for prostate cancer diagnosis

et al. 2019

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The psychological impact of the rapid diagnostic centres in cancer screening: A systematic review

Cited by 8 publications

References 28 publications

Understanding Women’s Anxiety and Uncertainty attending a Rapid Diagnostic Clinic for Suspicious Breast Abnormality: A Mixed Methods Study

Understanding Women’s Anxiety and Uncertainty attending a Rapid Diagnostic Clinic for Suspicious Breast Abnormality: A Mixed Methods Study

Understanding Women’s Anxiety and Uncertainty attending a Rapid Diagnostic Clinic for Suspicious Breast Abnormality: A Mixed Methods Study

One-Stop MRI and MRI/transrectal ultrasound fusion-guided biopsy: an expedited pathway for prostate cancer diagnosis

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