Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40514053›Full record

ArticleBMJ open respiratory research2025

Patients' experiences of, and psychological responses to, surveillance for pulmonary nodules detected through lung cancer screening.

Evangelos Katsampouris, Andrew W Creamer, Ruth Prendecki, Elizabeth Clark, Jennifer L Dickson, Richard Lee, Samuel M Janes, Stephen W Duffy, Samantha L Quaife

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open respiratory research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Evangelos KatsampourisCentre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK e.katsampouris@qmul.ac.uk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5211-6572
Andrew W CreamerLungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
Ruth PrendeckiLungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
Elizabeth ClarkSchool of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Jennifer L DicksonLungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
Richard LeeLung Unit, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8368-3406
Samuel M JanesLungs for Living Research Centre, UCL Respiratory, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
Stephen W DuffyCentre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
Samantha L QuaifeCentre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis, Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionLow-dose CT screening reduces lung cancer mortality among high-risk populations, and detects indeterminate pulmonary nodules that require subsequent surveillance. This period of uncertainty could result in patients experiencing lung cancer-related distress, anxiety and worry. This multicentre qualitative study explored patients' experiences and psychological responses to disclosing and communicating nodule surveillance.

methodsEligible participants were purposively sampled from four lung cancer screening sites in England to ensure diversity with respect to region, service setting, individual characteristics and surveillance pathways. Thirty-nine patients (23 females), aged 55-80 years, who had undergone their first nodule surveillance scan, participated in one-to-one remote semi-structured interviews. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using applied thematic analysis.

resultsParticipants reported a broad spectrum of psychological responses to the way their nodule finding was communicated and their experiences of undergoing surveillance. Understanding what a nodule is and what a surveillance process entails was important for explaining patient psychological reactions and behavioural outcomes. Perceived support and effective communication with healthcare professionals were instrumental in decreasing patients' distress, uncertainty and concern, and increasing reassurance, knowledge about nodules and psychological preparation for the possibility of surveillance.

conclusionsWhile current letter-based means of nodule disclosure and communication were acceptable to patients, there is a need to improve the way nodules are communicated using lay language. Brief verbal consultations with healthcare professionals could provide clearer guidance to patients undergoing surveillance and increase their understanding about the surveillance process and subsequent scans, resulting in improved affective, behavioural and cognitive outcomes.

Indexed as

Early Detection of CancerLung NeoplasmsMultiple Pulmonary NodulesSolitary Pulmonary NoduleAgedAged, 80 and overAnxietyEnglandFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchTomography, X-Ray Computedlung cancer

Identifiers

PMID40514053
PMCPMC12164620

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.