Uncertainty about waiting for a diagnosis can be a cause of greater anxiety than the awareness of a serious disease, emphasize the researchers who presented their research at the North American Society of Radiology Congress. Reuters reports on their conclusions.
As soon as the patient hears the diagnosis, they gain some kind of understanding and control. However, without it, all he has is anxiety that he doesn’t know how to deal with. It is important that doctors and other healthcare professionals realize this and help patients alleviate anxiety and stress, says study author Dr. Elvira V. Lang of the Harvard Medical School in Boston.
In collaboration with the psychologist Dr. Nicole Flory, the researcher analyzed the levels of anxiety and stress in 214 women, 112 of whom were awaiting a breast biopsy, 42 for liver chemoembolization (a procedure used to treat liver cancer), and 60 for embolization of uterine fibroids.
Patients waiting for a biopsy showed an anxiety level of about twice as high (48 out of 160 points) than women who were to undergo liver chemoembolization (26 points) or embolization of uterine fibroids (24 points). Moreover, this group showed a higher level of stress and had slightly more depressive symptoms.
According to Dr. Lang, the results are quite surprising considering that the embolization procedure is more invasive and carries a higher risk for the patient.
Healthcare professionals and the family can mainly consider the degree of risk associated with a procedure. However, the patient experiences something different – noted the researcher. People want to reassure their patients, but the language they use does not help at all. For example, they say + it will not be so bad + or + it will be just a small prick +, while such words only exacerbate the patients’ fear.
According to Dr. Lang, medical workers who have contact with patients should undergo training in the ability to properly talk to patients and how to reduce anxiety and stress (PAP).