TY - JOUR
T1 - Anticipatory anxiety and participation in cancer screening. A systematic review
AU - Goodwin, Belinda
AU - Anderson, Laura
AU - Collins, Katelyn
AU - Sanjida, Saira
AU - Riba, Marcos
AU - Singh, Gursharan K.
AU - Campbell, Kimberley M.
AU - Green, Heather
AU - Ishaque, Sana
AU - Kwok, Alastair
AU - Opozda, Melissa J.
AU - Pearn, Amy
AU - Shaw, Joanne
AU - Sansom-Daly, Ursula M.
AU - Tsirgiotis, Joanna M.
AU - Janda, Monika
AU - Grech, Lisa
PY - 2023/12
Y1 - 2023/12
N2 - Objectives: To synthesize current evidence on the association between anticipatory anxiety, defined as apprehension-specific negative affect that may be experienced when exposed to potential threat or uncertainty, and cancer screening to better inform strategies to maximize participation rates. Methods: Searches related to cancer screening and anxiety were conducted in seven electronic databases (APA PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL), with potentially eligible papers screened in Covidence. Data extraction was conducted independently by multiple authors. Barriers to cancer screening for any type of cancer and relationships tested between anticipatory anxiety and cancer screening and intention were categorized and compared according to the form and target of anxiety and cancer types. Results: A total of 74 articles (nparticipants = 119,990) were included, reporting 103 relationships tested between anticipatory anxiety and cancer screening and 13 instances where anticipatory anxiety was reported as a barrier to screening. Anticipatory anxiety related to a possible cancer diagnosis was often associated with increased screening, while general anxiety showed no consistent relationship. Negative relationships were often found between anxiety about the screening procedure and cancer screening. Conclusion: Anticipatory anxiety about a cancer diagnosis may promote screening participation, whereas a fear of the screening procedure could be a barrier. Public health messaging and primary prevention practitioners should acknowledge the appropriate risk of cancer, while engendering screening confidence and highlighting the safety and comfort of screening tests.
AB - Objectives: To synthesize current evidence on the association between anticipatory anxiety, defined as apprehension-specific negative affect that may be experienced when exposed to potential threat or uncertainty, and cancer screening to better inform strategies to maximize participation rates. Methods: Searches related to cancer screening and anxiety were conducted in seven electronic databases (APA PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL), with potentially eligible papers screened in Covidence. Data extraction was conducted independently by multiple authors. Barriers to cancer screening for any type of cancer and relationships tested between anticipatory anxiety and cancer screening and intention were categorized and compared according to the form and target of anxiety and cancer types. Results: A total of 74 articles (nparticipants = 119,990) were included, reporting 103 relationships tested between anticipatory anxiety and cancer screening and 13 instances where anticipatory anxiety was reported as a barrier to screening. Anticipatory anxiety related to a possible cancer diagnosis was often associated with increased screening, while general anxiety showed no consistent relationship. Negative relationships were often found between anxiety about the screening procedure and cancer screening. Conclusion: Anticipatory anxiety about a cancer diagnosis may promote screening participation, whereas a fear of the screening procedure could be a barrier. Public health messaging and primary prevention practitioners should acknowledge the appropriate risk of cancer, while engendering screening confidence and highlighting the safety and comfort of screening tests.
KW - anxiety
KW - cancer
KW - delivery of healthcare
KW - early detection of cancer
KW - oncology
KW - patient acceptance of health care
KW - prevention and control
KW - screening
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85176086920&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/pon.6238
DO - 10.1002/pon.6238
M3 - Review article
C2 - 37929985
AN - SCOPUS:85176086920
SN - 1057-9249
VL - 32
SP - 1773
EP - 1786
JO - Psycho-Oncology
JF - Psycho-Oncology
IS - 12
ER -
