The Role of Uncertainty in Lung Cancer Screening Decision Making
Abstract
Early detection of lung cancer is crucial to improving morbidity and mortality outcomes. However, it does not come without risks. Individuals who undergo lung cancer screening using low-dose computed tomography may receive false-positive results or undergo potentially unnecessary follow-up testing. Therefore, individuals considering lung cancer screening may be influenced by how well they can tolerate uncertainty, specifically regarding the benefits and risks of screening. Additionally, many eligible individuals are unaware of lung cancer screening and their eligibility or may have misinformation about lung cancer screening. Therefore, interventions to increase lung cancer screening knowledge are often used to aid the decision-making process and have demonstrated a significant effect on lung cancer screening engagement. It is unknown whether screening behaviors over time are influenced by an interaction between an individual’s intolerance of uncertainty and their knowledge of the benefits and risks of lung cancer screening. The present study examined 1) the role of intolerance of uncertainty on increased engagement with lung cancer screening over six months, 2) the effect of a brief educational intervention on increased screening engagement compared to a control group, 3) a moderation effect of intolerance of uncertainty on the relationship between group assignment and forward engagement on lung cancer screening, and 4) exploratory analyses focused on the unique role of subtypes of intolerance of uncertainty (prospective and inhibitory anxiety) on forward engagement on lung cancer screening. Ninety-two individuals were randomized and completed baseline and 6-month follow-up questionnaires on intolerance of uncertainty, lung cancer screening engagement, and other psychosocial measures. Logistic regression analyses were used to examine all study aims. Results did not support a significant effect of the intervention on forward engagement in lung cancer screening behaviors, nor a significant association between intolerance of uncertainty and forward engagement over six months. Several reasons for the current nonsignificant results are discussed. Despite limitations, the present study represents an important step in identifying how intolerance of uncertainty differentially impacts engagement in cancer screening and opens the door for examining uncertainty more broadly in lung cancer screening research.
Subject Area
Clinical psychology|Psychology|Oncology|Medicine
Recommended Citation
Walsh, Leah Elizabeth, "The Role of Uncertainty in Lung Cancer Screening Decision Making" (2023). ETD Collection for Fordham University. AAI30991917.
https://research.library.fordham.edu/dissertations/AAI30991917
