Psychological impact of computed tomography screening for lung cancer and occupational pulmonary disease among asbestos-exposed workers

The objective of this study was to investigate the psychological impact of screening for lung cancer and occupational pulmonary disease among asbestos-exposed workers. Altogether, 633 workers were screened with chest computed tomography (627 men, 6 women, mean age 64.5 years). Participants' views on the necessity of screening, awareness of asbestos-exposure risks, their perceived lung cancer risk, trial adherence intention, health anxiety, and worry about lung cancer were assessed. Health anxiety was reduced significantly after screening (P<0.001). After 1 year, no significant long-term psychological differences were found between those who immediately received clear results and those who were submitted to additional examinations because of positive findings. In conclusion, computed tomography screening of pulmonary disease was well accepted and did not produce excessive long-term anxiety or other negative psychological effects, which could prevent the participation in the future screening programs.