Managing anxiety in men undergoing surveillance in the NHS abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme: a survey of screening staff in England

Background AAA is an enlargement in the aorta that can increase in size and rupture. In England, the National Health Service (NHS) AAA Screening Programme offers screening to all men aged 65 to identify those with an AAA. Men with small or medium sized aneurysm enter surveillance where they receive ultrasound scans annually or every three months respectively. Due to concerns about mortality from AAA rupture, anxiety levels may be high for men and their families and impact on their quality of life. Aim To obtain the views of staff providing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) screening on how best to help men in surveillance to manage AAA-related anxiety. Methods A cross-sectional online survey of the 38 AAA regional screening services in England was conducted. Four staff with different roles from each service (doctor, nurse, manager and scanning technician) were asked to complete an online questionnaire. Results The response rate was 71 % (27/38) for regional AAA screening services and 65 % (99/152) for the staff approached. 93 % (79/84) of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that men in surveillance may need help to manage anxiety. The size of the aneurysm was rated as the factor most likely to cause anxiety. 63 % (51/81) considered AAA Programme Nurses to be the best people to deliver an intervention. Staff suggested that improved information about AAA and associated risks, group support/networking sessions, and more contact with the screening service were ways of helping with management of anxiety. Conclusion Staff providing AAA screening recognised that being in surveillance can cause anxiety for men and their families, and identified that potential interventions, such as organised support groups and improved provision of information, might help manage anxiety. Programme Nurses were considered the ideal healthcare professional to help men in surveillance manage AAA-related anxiety.