NCT07420101

Easing Scan Anxiety in Pediatric Oncology Caregivers Through Meditation-based Programs

A Mindfulness Approach to Scanxiety

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 160 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Kimberley Roche · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

"Scanxiety" is a term coined to describe anxiety related to imaging during cancer treatment and has not been robustly studied in pediatric oncology caregivers. Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a meditation-based program that offers a non-pharmacologic approach to managing stress. The main purposes of this study are two-fold: 1). to determine if scanxiety exists in the caregivers of pediatric oncology patients and 2.) if scanxiety is found, does the implementation of a mindfulness program help to improve caregiver anxiety related to imaging.

Detailed description

"Scanxiety" is a term coined to describe anxiety related to imaging during cancer treatment. It is multifactorial and includes anxiety leading up to the scan as well as the waiting period after imaging and prior to results, as well as worry about possible changes in treatment. It has been documented in adult oncology literature and is associated with lower quality of life. Past adult studies show an inverse relationship with time since diagnosis and scanxiety, the further out from diagnosis, the lower level of scanxiety. Scanxiety is higher in those with lower education levels and higher baseline anxiety. Though scanxiety has been sparsely acknowledged in pediatric oncology literature, anxiety has been documented in parents of pediatric patients receiving MRI's for various diagnoses. Although caregivers of pediatric oncology patients experience high levels of distress, to date there are no studies that have measured the presence of scanxiety specifically in caregivers of pediatric oncology patients. Therefore, there are no intervention studies attempting to ameliorate anxiety related to imaging in the caregivers of pediatric oncology patients. Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a meditation-based program that offers a non-pharmacologic approach to managing stress. Its effects of reducing stress and other stress-related outcomes including anxiety is documented in various populations including police officers, prison inmates, university students, adolescents with cardiac diagnoses, and healthcare professionals. It has also been used to decrease stress in oncology patients and the partners of adult oncology patients. MBSR sessions can be provided in person but are also effective in an online training format. Although it has been well-studied in a variety of populations, the effectiveness of MBSR has yet to be evaluated in the caregivers of pediatric oncology patients. In particular, this study aims to fill the scientific gap in exploring if MSBR may reduce scanxiety in this population.

Conditions

• Caregiver Anxiety
• Caregiver Anxiety Related to Cancer Imaging
• Pediatric Oncology

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Mindful Module Caregiver Packet	If Scanxiety was identified, patient's caregiver will receive the Mindful Module Caregiver Packet. The intervention group will receive the daily module on Days 1-7; Day 7 being the day before scan. At the end of the module (Day 7), they will be directed to two surveys (STAI and Feasibility of the Program).

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-02-01
• Primary completion: 2027-02-01
• Completion: 2027-02-01
• First posted: 2026-02-19
• Last updated: 2026-03-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States