Non-pharmacological strategies to reduce anxiety in patients undergoing PET/CT: systematized review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25758/set.2263Keywords:
PET/CT, Anxiety, Patients satisfaction, Relaxation techniquesAbstract
Introduction – Anxiety, characterized by feelings of tension and concern regarding situations that the individual perceives as potentially dangerous or unknown, is one of the emotional reactions experienced by cancer patients at the time of the Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET/CT) exam. High levels of anxiety can negatively influence patient experience and satisfaction, as well as have imaging implications. Thus, the assessment of anxiety in these patients is extremely important, as well as the need to adopt effective intervention strategies for its reduction. Objectives – This systematic review aims to identify and analyze the efficacy of non-pharmacological techniques aimed at reducing anxiety in patients undergoing PET/CT, before and during the examination. Methods – Two databases (PubMed and Science Direct) and other research sources resulted in 22 studies. We included all studies that included strategies to reduce anxiety in PET/CT exams and that were published in Portuguese and English. Articles of a systematic review, with a pediatric population that, did not present the text in full, were excluded. Results – Eight studies were selected for analysis in a time-space between 2000 and 2020. Four strategies aimed at reducing anxiety were identified in patients undergoing PET/CT: music, audiovisual media, mindfulness practices, and communication health professional-patient. Conclusion – There are several techniques that can be applied, to minimize the feeling of anxiety in the patient and provide a better experience in the service. However, there is still little evidence on this topic. Therefore, additional studies are suggested that can identify more techniques and prove their efficacy.
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