Psychological distress and quality of life in asymptomatic adults following provision of imaging results for prevention of cardiovascular disease events: a scoping review

Reindolf Anokye; Ben Jackson; James Dimmock; Joanne M Dickson; Lauren C Blekkenhorst; Jonathan M Hodgson; Joshua R Lewis; Mandy Stanley

doi:10.1093/eurjcn/zvac047

Psychological distress and quality of life in asymptomatic adults following provision of imaging results for prevention of cardiovascular disease events: a scoping review

Eur J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2023 Jan 12;22(1):13-22. doi: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvac047.

Authors

Reindolf Anokye¹, Ben Jackson^{2

3}, James Dimmock^{2

4}, Joanne M Dickson^{1

5

6}, Lauren C Blekkenhorst^{1

7}, Jonathan M Hodgson^{1

7}, Joshua R Lewis^{1

7

8}, Mandy Stanley⁹

Affiliations

¹ School of Medical and Health Sciences, Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Royal Perth Hospital Research Foundation, Perth, WA, Australia.
² School of Human Sciences (Exercise and Sport Science), University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
³ Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁴ Department of Psychology, College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Queensland, Australia.
⁵ School of Arts and Humanities (Psychology Discipline), Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.
⁶ Department of Psychological Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
⁷ Medical School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
⁸ Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, School of Public Health, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁹ School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia.

PMID: 35709338
DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvac047

Abstract

Aims: Psychological distress and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) may occur after screening for disease. Reporting outcomes related to potential benefits and harms of screening is a key recommendation in the guidelines for reporting high-quality trials or interventions. However, no reviews have directly investigated outcomes related to psychological distress and/or changes in HRQoL following imaging assessment of cardiovascular risk and communication of cardiovascular findings to asymptomatic adults. A scoping review was conducted to map research on psychological distress and/or HRQoL following screening.

Methods and results: Six electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsychINFO, Social Work Abstracts, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, CINAHL, and EMBASE) were searched for articles that assessed psychological distress and/or HRQoL following screening. Two investigators independently screened titles and abstracts for all records retrieved using predefined criteria. Studies were conducted among active smokers, military personnel, athletes, post-menopausal women, and high-risk individuals. Seven constructs related to psychological distress and HRQoL appeared across 11 articles (randomized controlled trials, n = 4 and non-randomized studies, n = 7). Worry, depression, perceived stress, anxiety, and quality of life were most prominent. Multiple-item measures of psychological distress (e.g. Taylor Anxiety Score and Beck Depression Inventory) were used in 5/9 (56%) studies. Key findings on psychological distress and/or changes in HRQoL following screening were mixed.

Conclusions: Findings support the need for multiple-item measures with better psychometric properties to examine the psychological responses to screening results in future studies. Strategies to support individuals during and following vascular screening to maximise potential benefits of screening and minimize harms are discussed.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular imaging; Health-related quality of life; Psychological distress; Scoping review.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Anxiety / prevention & control
Anxiety Disorders
Cardiovascular Diseases* / prevention & control
Female
Humans
Psychological Distress*
Quality of Life