Anxiety and Internet Research Before Percutaneous Ultrasound-guided Diagnostic Procedures

Invasive procedures guided by ultrasound (US) are part of the routine medical diagnostic investigation. The lack of knowledge related to technical aspects about them can lead the patient to seek complementary information on the internet, which can trigger anxiety. However, the intersection between the areas of Radiology and Psychology is poorly studied. Here we show the profile of an anxious patient before an US-guided intervention. One hundred thirty-three patients were evaluated. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was applied for psychometry. Higher anxiety scores were significantly observed in female patient, in those who believe they had received inadequate information from the referring physician, and in those who assessed the online information to be unreliable or difficult to access. Patients who defined themselves as proactive in online searching reported lower anxiety. Our results show that the profile of an anxious patient before an US-guided intervention can be established. The recognition of this profile can guide measures to reduce anxiety in patients who will undergo an US-guided invasive procedure.

Said Nursi’s Psycho-spiritual Therapy for Psychological Reactions of Patients with Physical Illnesses

Depression and anxiety are relatively common psychological reactions among those with chronic physical illnesses.1 It has been associated with low quality of life and impairment of daily functions.1 Cognitive behavioral therapy has been shown to be effective in helping patients to deal with maladaptive beliefs about their illnesses that predispose and perpetuate the psychological reactions.2 An event e.g. illness, may be interpreted differently by different individuals from a cognitive point of view.2 A person who attaches an unrealistic extravagant meaning to it, will result in an excessive emotional reaction. The cognitive content of a depressed patient centers on significant loss e.g. health, while an anxious patient harbors thoughts of imminent danger e.g. fear of loss.2

Anxiety and internet searches before percutaneous ultrasound-guided diagnostic procedures (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Percutaneous image-guided procedures are among the most widely-used medical innovations. With the advent of the Internet, a profusion of information has become widely available, however, the reliability of its content is a relevant concern. OBJECTIVE Our study investigated anxiety in patients before undergoing ultrasound (US)-guided invasive procedures and its association with patient assessments of information provided by referring physicians and complementary sources of information, specifically the Internet. METHODS Patients undergoing US-guided invasive elective procedures completed two questionnaires. Before the procedure, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was applied. After the intervention, another questionnaire that addressed sociodemographic characteristics and assessments of online information was administered. RESULTS One hundred thirty-three patients were evaluated. Higher anxiety scores were significantly observed in female patients (P < 0.001), in those who believe they had received inadequate information from the referring physician (P = 0.002), and in those who assessed the online information to be unreliable (P = 0.002) or difficult to access (P = 0.025). Patients who defined themselves as proactive in online searching reported lower anxiety (P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the profile of an anxious patient before an US-guided invasive intervention can be established. Information about the procedure, whether provided by the doctor or available on the internet, is also directly related to anxious states.

Sedation or General Anaesthetic for Special Care Patients?

When faced with an anxious patient with complex needs who requires dental care, it can be difficult to decide on the most appropriate method to manage their pain and anxiety. There are a range of conscious sedation techniques that may be used, and on some occasions, general anaesthesia may be required. This paper describes the methods available and the factors influencing the decision-making process. The general dental practitioner (GDP) may not be able to offer care in their setting, but knowing more about the decision-making process and the information required to make that decision can help them guide patients and their families.