Table 5.

Recommended areas for future scanxiety research.

Research Topics: Expanding Research to Areas Needing Additional Attention
Suggested Areas	Example Research Questions
Investigate care partners’ scanxiety levels and supportive care needs	What are the scanxiety characteristics, levels, and support needs among care partners/family members? How do care partners’ scanxiety compare to and influence that of the cancer survivor?
Determine whether people with cancer experience similar anxiety and uncertainty while awaiting different types of tests	How does anxiety fluctuate in the time period around cancer-monitoring blood tests and results delivery? What are the components or dimensions of anxiety around these procedures? What are the correlates and effects of anxiety around other tests?
Explore how newer modes of scan results delivery (e.g., via electronic results release; via video or other remote clinical interactions) affect scanxiety	Which patients experience decreased anxiety when receiving faster, automated test results (e.g., in patient portals)—and which patients experience elevated anxiety? What support strategies may patients need in order to engage with and benefit from this format of results delivery?
Expand scanxiety research to under-investigated populations, time periods, and scan types	What are the scanxiety experiences and coping strategies of those with hematological malignancies? How does anxiety fluctuate between the scan procedure and the scan results? What factors may exacerbate or buffer against increases? How do patients cope with anxiety in the context of investigative scans prompted by new or worsening symptoms? What are the longitudinal patterns of scanxiety that occur over time with repeated scans?
Expand work on the effects of scanxiety and moderators of these effects	For whom and how does scanxiety affect one’s likelihood of adhering to follow-up care? How does scanxiety impact physical symptoms, communication in appointments, and other outcomes?
Determine intervention targets and test whether interventions are effective	Are brief interventions (e.g., just-in-time micro-interventions) acceptable, feasible, and efficacious for reducing anxiety at the time of scan procedures? Which coping strategies are most effective for managing uncertainty about what results may show? When is the optimal time to introduce a behavioral intervention with respect to scans?
Research Methods: Strengthening how Scanxiety Studies Are Conducted
Suggested Approaches	Example Research Questions/Directions
Harmonize measures and examine psychometrics	How does scanxiety relate to close constructs such as fear of recurrence or progression, anticipatory anxiety, and state anxiety? Is it sufficient to use existing state anxiety measures to index scanxiety? Or are there advantages to developing specific measures that reflect multiple elements or specific components of scanxiety? Examine psychometrics of scanxiety measures
Improve description of follow-up care procedures	Strengthen descriptions of what typical follow-up procedures entail (e.g., exams, tests) In studies of general anxiety, include questions about whether an upcoming scan or scan discussion is occurring
Detail time periods to include information on procedures and scan results delivery phases	Describe the length of time between assessment time points with respect to pre-scan, post-scan, and results delivery time points. Report whether, when, and how results were delivered, and what they showed. How do waiting periods and results delivery methods influence scanxiety? How can clinicians or clinics structure the scan experience to help mitigate anxiety?
Explore innovative measurement strategies	Are daily diary and/or ecological momentary assessment approaches acceptable and feasible around the time of scans for older adults, those with advanced disease, and those on active treatment? Do these approaches reveal fluctuations and individual differences not evident from one-time assessments?
Intervention Approaches: Developing and Testing Ways to Manage Scanxiety
Promising Approaches	Example Research Directions/Intervention Targets
Screening to identify those experiencing or at higher risk for scanxiety	Use scan-specific measures to identify those with scanxiety Prioritize at-risk individuals for interventions
Tailoring strategies to stressful time periods	Design interventions that address procedure-related and results-related components of scanxiety Optimize strategies for each time period (e.g., pre-scan; awaiting results)
Behavioral / self-management strategies	Promote self-efficacy for coping with progression/recurrence Bolster overall stress management skills (e.g., relaxation, pleasant activities) Facilitate just-in-time strategies for distinct periods (e.g., during or directly before scans)
Clinic or system strategies	Reduce scan-to-results waiting time Provide education/structure that promotes knowing what to expect for the procedure Engage in shared decision-making about scans and results delivery