Study Aims to Mitigate “Scanxiety” & Misinformation in Cancer Care

Boston, MA | November 27, 2024

Supported by a two-year grant from Yosemite, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center launches a study to alleviate the challenges cancer patients face in understanding their medical test results. Led by Open Notes Labs, the study, “Mitigating Misinformation & Scanxiety for Cancer Patients,” focuses on reducing the stress and confusion patients may face when receiving medical test results electronically before having the opportunity to discuss them with a clinician.

“Scanxiety” refers to the anxiety and distress that patients often experience while waiting for or interpreting medical imaging or diagnostic test results, especially in the context of serious conditions like cancer. This study builds on insights and prior research from the Open Results learning collaborative and explores how emerging technologies, including AI-generated interpretations of test results, can make complex medical information clearer and more accessible.

“By addressing scanxiety and misinformation, we are working towards a future where patients feel more supported and informed through digital health technologies,” said Catherine M. DesRoches, DrPH, Director of Open Notes Labs, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Principal Investigator for the study.

In partnership with UC Health – Colorado and Vanderbilt University Medical Center, investigators will work with cancer patients, radiologists, and oncology clinicians to co-design patient-friendly summaries for diagnostic scans to ensure these tools reflect the needs of both groups, then test AI-generated summaries with patients at UC Health to evaluate their accuracy, relevance, and readability. The study will also examine the challenges and costs of integrating such tools into clinical workflows, ensuring their scalability and potential for widespread adoption.

“We believe that oncologists, primary care providers, and patients working together will make AI tools that improve lives,” said CT Lin, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at UC Health, Professor at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and co-Principal Investigator. “This collaboration is a testament to the power of shared knowledge and patient input.”