Preferences for notification of imaging results in patients with metastatic cancer

• Published in: Patient education and counseling 2020-02, Vol.103 (2), p.392-397
• Main Authors: Morreale, Mary K., Moore, Tanina F., Kim, Seongho, Uphold, Heatherlun S., Mabunda, Lorna M., Harper, Felicity W.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Anxiety; Depression; Diagnostic Imaging; Disclosure - statistics & numerical data; Distress; Expectations; Female; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms - pathology; Health literacy; Humans; Imaging results; Lung Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Metastatic cancer; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis - diagnostic imaging; Nursing; Patient Preference; Patients - psychology; Psychological Distress; Social Support; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
• ISSN: 0738-3991; 1873-5134
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2019.08.032

•Patients with metastatic cancer experience low levels of distress around imaging examinations.•Patients prefer notification of results within two days and during a visit with their oncologist.•Receiving results from preferred personnel may lead to psychological benefit during this period.•Diminishing a patient’s sense of social isolation might also help to reduce distress. This study examines the preferences of patients with metastatic cancer regarding notification of imaging results, as well as distress surrounding the process. On imaging day, preferences for notification, expectations of results, health literacy, and social support were measured. After receiving results, patients reported on actual delivery methods. At both times, patients were screened for overall distress, anxiety, and depression. The majority of patients preferred notification within 2 days and during a face-to-face visit with their oncologist. Although levels of distress, anxiety, and depression were low, patients with higher anxiety, depression, and social isolation had higher distress. There was no correlation between absolute distress levels and agreement between notification preferences and actual delivery methods. Receiving results from a preferred provider was associated with a decrease in distress from imaging day to follow-up. Face-to-face delivery of results was more important to people with lower health literacy. While distress regarding the receipt of results was low, it was higher for some groups of patients. Attending to the preferences of these subgroups may help to minimize distress. Receiving results from preferred personnel and diminishing patients' sense of social isolation might provide psychological benefit during the period surrounding imaging.