Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Psychoeducation on Knowledge and Psychological Distress in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiological Imaging: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer undergoing radiological imaging often experience psychological distress due to procedural uncertainty and fear of unfavorable diagnoses.

AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led psychoeducational intervention on knowledge and psychological distress among cancer patients undergoing imaging in India.

METHODS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 adult cancer patients who underwent radiological imaging. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group, receiving nurse-led psychoeducation, or the control group, receiving standard care. The primary outcomes were knowledge of radiological imaging, assessed using a validated questionnaire, and psychological distress, measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Data were collected at the baseline and immediately after imaging.

RESULTS

The post-intervention knowledge scores significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (10.48 ± 1.99 vs. 8.51 ± 2.14; p < 0.001). Anxiety levels decreased significantly in the intervention group, with the proportion of participants experiencing no anxiety increasing from 67.74% to 93.55% (p = 0.001). After adjusting for baseline anxiety, the intervention group had significantly lower odds of anxiety than the control group (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.35; p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in depression or stress levels between the groups.

CONCLUSION

Nurse-led psychoeducation effectively improved knowledge and reduced anxiety in patients with cancer undergoing radiological imaging. Integrating such interventions into pre-imaging protocols can enhance patient preparedness and reduce psychological distress. Further research should explore the long-term effects and adaptability of this intervention in diverse healthcare settings.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: CTRI/2021/06/034458.