Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Psychoeducation on Knowledge and Psychological Distress in Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiological Imaging: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Patients with cancer undergoing radiological imaging often experience psychological distress due to procedural uncertainty and fear of unfavorable diagnoses. AimsThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse-led psychoeducational intervention on knowledge and psychological distress among cancer patients undergoing imaging in India. Methods A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 120 adult cancer patients who underwent radiological imaging. Participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group, receiving nurse-led psychoeducation, or the control group, receiving standard care. The primary outcomes were knowledge of radiological imaging, assessed using a validated questionnaire, and psychological distress, measured using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21. Data were collected at the baseline and immediately after imaging. Results The post-intervention knowledge scores significantly improved in the intervention group compared to the control group (10.48 +/- 1.99 vs. 8.51 +/- 2.14; p < 0.001). Anxiety levels decreased significantly in the intervention group, with the proportion of participants experiencing no anxiety increasing from 67.74% to 93.55% (p = 0.001). After adjusting for baseline anxiety, the intervention group had significantly lower odds of anxiety than the control group (OR = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.35; p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in depression or stress levels between the groups. Conclusion Nurse-led psychoeducation effectively improved knowledge and reduced anxiety in patients with cancer undergoing radiological imaging. Integrating such interventions into pre-imaging protocols can enhance patient preparedness and reduce psychological distress. Further research should explore the long-term effects and adaptability of this intervention in diverse healthcare settings. Trial Registration CTRI/2021/06/034458