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Measuring "Scanxiety": A Systematic Review and Symptom Coverage Analysis of Commonly Used Measures
K Bullock1, G H Rawlings2, G Lee1
1University of Staffordshire, Staffordshire, UK.
Radiography (London, England : 1995)
|July 22, 2026
Summary
Scanxiety, or scan-related distress, is a complex experience with poorly defined symptoms. Current assessment tools inadequately capture the full spectrum of scanxiety, including behavioral and environmental factors.
Area of Science:
- Medical Psychology
- Patient Experience Research
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Scanxiety, anxiety related to medical scans, has poorly defined symptoms and inconsistent measurement.
- Existing research lacks a comprehensive understanding of the diverse symptoms associated with scanxiety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and synthesize reported symptoms of scanxiety in adult populations.
- To evaluate how well current patient-reported outcome measures capture the multifaceted symptoms of scanxiety.
Main Methods:
- A best fit framework synthesis approach was used, analyzing 23 studies.
- Symptoms were categorized using the five areas model (emotional, cognitive, behavioral, physiological, environmental).
- Identified symptoms were mapped against nine commonly used scanxiety assessment measures.
Main Results:
- 159 symptoms of scanxiety were identified and synthesized into 18 conceptual clusters.
- Measures predominantly captured emotional and physical symptoms; behavioral and cognitive symptoms were inconsistently represented.
- Environmental symptoms of scanxiety were not captured by any reviewed measure.
Conclusions:
- Scanxiety is a multi-dimensional experience influenced by context, with symptoms inadequately captured by current tools.
- Assessment of scan-related distress must include behavioral and environmental factors.
- Developing new, experience-grounded tools is crucial for improving scanxiety identification and support.
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