'I still don't know diddly': a longitudinal qualitative study of patients' knowledge and distress while undergoing evaluation of incidental pulmonary nodules.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hundreds of thousands of incidental pulmonary nodules are detected annually in the United States, and this number will increase with the implementation of lung cancer screening. The lengthy period for active pulmonary nodule surveillance, often several years, is unique among cancer regimens. The psychosocial impact of longitudinal incidental nodule follow-up, however, has not been described.

Aims

We sought to evaluate the psychosocial impact of longitudinal follow-up of incidental nodule detection on patients.

Methods

Veterans who participated in our previous study had yearly follow-up qualitative interviews coinciding with repeat chest imaging. We used conventional content analysis to explore their knowledge of nodules and the follow-up plan, and their dis

SUBMITTER: Sullivan DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4532158 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature