Fear and forget: how anxiety impacts information recall in newly diagnosed cancer patients visiting a fast-track clinic

Abstract

Introduction: One-day fast track programs for cancer diagnostics and treatment planning are increasingly being implemented in health care. Fast-track programs are highly effective at reducing waiting times, and thus well received by patients and healthcare providers. However, these programs may also burden patients, as patients generally receive a lot of information from multiple healthcare providers within a short time span. This might increase anxiety and negatively impact recall of medical information in newly diagnosed patients. This study examines whether anxiety influences information recall at the moment of diagnosis, and whether this relation differs for younger and older patients. Methods: Data were collected from 78 colorectal cancer patients visiting a one-day fast-track multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. All consultations that took place were recorded on a video. Anxiety was measured at baseline (T1) and immediately after consultations (T2) with the STAI-6. Information recall was assessed by telephone within 36–48 hours after patients’ visit (T3) using open questions. Results: After consultations (T2), 32% of patients experienced clinical anxiety levels. Patients recalled ∼60% of medical information (T3). Information recall was negatively impacted by anxiety (β = –.28, p =.011), and negatively related to higher age (β = –.23, p =.031), and lower education level (β =.27, p =.013). Although older patients (M = 53.99) recalled 11% less information than younger patients (M = 64.84), age was not related to anxiety and did not moderate the anxiety-recall relationship. Conclusion: High levels of anxiety after receiving a cancer diagnosis negatively influence how much information patients remember after visiting a one-day fast-track clinic. This calls for interventions that may reduce patients’ anxiety as much as reasonably possible and support patients’ information recall. Researchers, practitioners, and hospitals are encouraged to continue exploring ways to optimize information provision to cancer patients in current modern healthcare.