RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Fear in the Patient with Undiagnosed Symptoms
JF Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology
JO J. Nucl. Med. Technol.
FD Society of Nuclear Medicine
SP 325
OP 328
VO 24
IS 4
A1 Davidhizar, Ruth
A1 Dowd, Steven B.
YR 1996
UL http://tech.snmjournals.org/content/24/4/325.abstract
AB The effect of fear and anxiety on patients with undiagnosed symptoms is relatively unexplored in the medical literature. Fear can cause patients to react in various ways to the proposed plan of medical evaluation, including resistance or noncompliance. Many patients with undiagnosed symptoms are referred to nuclear medicine departments and technologists must competently perform the tests as well as provide emotional support to the patients. Patient support includes: providing information (patient education), encouraging patients to state their feelings and report symptoms to the physician, and providing a relevant distraction.