Journal article
The role of the affect heuristic and cancer anxiety in responding to negative information about medical tests
Psychology & health, Vol.33(2), pp.292-312
02/01/2018
DOI: 10.1080/08870446.2017.1316848
PMID: 28535696
Abstract
Objective: Little is known about the affective implications of communicating negative information about medical tests. This research explored how affective processes - particularly the Affect Heuristic and cancer anxiety - influence the way in which people respond to such information.
Design: Participants received different types of information about PSA screening for prostate cancer and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for migraine headaches. This was a 2 (Test harm information: present vs. absent) × 2 (Test benefit information: present vs. absent) × 2 (Test recommendation: present vs. absent) between-participants design.
Outcome Measures: Perceived risk, perceived benefit and general attitudes towards PSA and MRI testing, cancer anxiety, preferences to receive the tests vs. not.
Results: As predicted by the Affect Heuristic, test harm information reduced perceived test benefits. However, information about uncertain test benefit did not increase perceived test risks. Information about the test reduced cancer anxiety, indicating defensive coping. These variables - affect, anxiety, perceived risks and benefits - all uniquely predicted test preferences.
Conclusion: Affective processes play an important role in how people respond to and interpret negative information about medical tests. Information about harms and information about the lack of benefit can both make a test seem less beneficial, and will reduce cancer anxiety as a result.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- The role of the affect heuristic and cancer anxiety in responding to negative information about medical tests
- Creators
- Laura D Scherer - Department of Psychological Sciences, University of MissouriVictoria A Shaffer - Department of Health Sciences, University of MissouriTanner Caverly - Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of MichiganAaron M Scherer - Department of General Internal Medicine, University of IowaBrian J Zikmund-Fisher - Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of MichiganJeffrey T Kullgren - Department of Neurology, University of MichiganAngela Fagerlin - VA Center for Informatics Decision Enhancement and Surveillance (IDEAS)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Psychology & health, Vol.33(2), pp.292-312
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/08870446.2017.1316848
- PMID
- 28535696
- ISSN
- 0887-0446
- eISSN
- 1476-8321
- Grant note
- Ann Arbor VA Center for Clinical Management Research (10.13039/100000738)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/01/2018
- Academic Unit
- General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984094375802771
Metrics
25 Record Views