Intervention to Lower Anxiety of 18F-FDG PET/CT Patients by Use of Audiovisual Imagery During the Uptake Phase Before Imaging

Many patients referred for PET suffer from anxiety, possibly affecting the workflow and patient experience. In addition, patient anxiety may affect image quality through uptake of 18 F-FDG in muscles or brown adipose tissue (BAT).This study investigated the effects of a nonpharmacologic intervention—the use of audiovisual imagery in the PET uptake room—on patient anxiety and false-positive uptake of 18 F-FDG (in muscles and BAT). Methods: A 2-stage study was conducted on 101 patients. The cohort undergoing the intervention included 51 patients. The first stage (n 5 35) included physiologic measurements (cardiovascular activity, muscular activity, skin conductance, and cortisol), a state anxiety questionnaire, and visual evaluation of 18 F-FDG uptake in muscles and BAT; the second stage (n 5 66) included only the state anxiety questionnaire and the 18 F-FDG uptake evaluation. Results: Throughout the stay in the uptake room, a significant decrease in overall anxiety was found, together with several other significant changes in patient physiology. In the cohort with audiovisual intervention, however, the decrease in patient anxiety was significantly larger. The cohort with intervention also showed significantly lower 18 F-FDG uptake in BAT but not in muscles. Conclusion: The investigated audiovisual intervention helps to lower patient anxiety in the PET uptake room and can lower false-positive 18 F-FDG uptake in BAT.