What Help do Patients in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Surveillance Want to Manage Anxiety? A Qualitative Interview Study

This study aimed to explore the views of males in surveillance for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) about how to help them manage AAA related anxiety.

This was a qualitative interview study with 22 males, and two family members, in the National Health Service (NHS) AAA surveillance programme in England with self reported AAA related anxiety.

Some patients in the interviews described ongoing AAA related anxiety, but most reported stoicism, accepting that they had an AAA and finding surveillance reassuring. Some men described themselves as "thinking about" the AAA rather than being worried or anxious. They described diagnosis as a time of significant anxiety, and ongoing uncertainty about multiple aspects of having an AAA. They wanted information about these areas of uncertainty, particularly seeking personalised information about what they should do or not do to prevent rupture. They wanted information provided by a health professional as well as written information, so it could be tailored to their situation. One area of uncertainty was future treatment, and patients welcomed the opportunity to interact with those who had experienced AAA repair. Their preferences for intervention were information based rather than talking therapy based.

Patients in AAA surveillance expressed the need for more information to address their uncertainties, rather than therapeutic anxiety management options such as cognitive behavioural therapy.