Comparison of Claustrophobia, Noise Sensitivity and Vital Signs according to Anxiety Sensitivity Level before and after MRI

Park, Young Hae

Abstract

PURPOSE: The present study was conducted in order to examine claustrophobia, noise sensitivity and vital signs according to anxiety sensitivity level in patients who have Magnet Resonance Imaging(MRI).
METHODS
With 100 outpatients, we measured anxiety sensitivity, claustrophobia, noise sensitivity and vital sign before and after MRI. Measuring tools were ASI, CLQ-M, and NSI. Data were collected from February to March, 2008.
RESULTS
The ASI score was higher in women than in men(p < .05), and no statistically significant difference was observed according to age, region of scanning, experience in MRI, and the use of contrast agent. Both men and women patients showed the same ASI score and decrease in CLQ-M and NSI between before and after MRI. In women, ASI, CLQ-M and NSI were in positive correlation with one another(p < .001), and in men, there was no correlation between ASI and CLQ-M, and positive correlation was observed with NSI(p < .05). In comparison according to ASI level, blood pressure and pulse rate were not different in men and women. CLQ-M was not different in men, but was different in women(p < .001). NSI was different in both men and women(men p < .05; women p < .001).
CONCLUSION
MRI may cause claustrophobia in patients with high anxiety sensitivity, and noise appears to aggravate anxiety. In particular, claustrophobia was more serious in women than in men. Therefore, it is necessary to develop nursing interventions to reduce anxiety sensitivity particularly for female patients, and to make plans to educate and lower noise before MRI in order to reduce claustrophobia.