Effects of Pre-MRI Multimodal Psychosocial Nursing Intervention on Anxiety and Examination Compliance in Patients With Optic Neuritis.

Abstract

Aims/background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential for diagnosing and monitoring optic neuritis. However, the procedure itself may induce significant anxiety in patients, potentially compromising examination compliance and image quality. This study retrospectively evaluated the effects of a structured, multimodal pre-MRI psychosocial nursing intervention on anxiety and compliance in patients with optic neuritis.

Methods: A total of 106 patients diagnosed with optic neuritis who underwent MRI at Jiaozhou Central Hospital of Qingdao between June 2021 and June 2024 were included. Patients were allocated to two groups based on the type of nursing intervention received before the MRI: the control group received routine nursing intervention, while the observation group received a comprehensive intervention comprising four core components: structured health education, individualized psychological support, environmental and emotional support, and family guidance. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) were administered at baseline to assess the comparability of general psychological status between groups. The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Form-1 (STAI-1) was used to evaluate periprocedural state anxiety before and after the intervention. Physiological indicators, including heart rate and blood pressure as anxiety-related stress indicators, and oxygen saturation as a safety parameter, as well as examination compliance, were compared between the two groups. Compliance was assessed by MRI technicians using a 5-point scale based on image clarity and motion artifacts, with higher scores indicating better cooperation.

Results: Baseline SAS, SDS, and STAI-1 scores did not differ significantly between the two groups (p > 0.05), indicating comparability in general psychological status and pre-intervention anxiety levels. Following the intervention, the STAI-1 score (43.16 ± 2.85) in the observation group was significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.001). Additionally, the observation group exhibited significantly lower post-intervention heart rate and blood pressure compared with the control group (p < 0.05). The compliance score in the controlgroup was 4.00 (2.00, 5.00), while that in the observation group was 5.00 (4.00, 5.00); compliance in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the observation group demonstrated a higher first-attempt success rate and a shorter mean examination time compared with the control group, with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: A multimodal psychosocial nursing intervention administered before MRI examination effectively reduces periprocedural state anxiety and physiological stress responses in patients with optic neuritis. This approach may have broader applicability for improving patient compliance and MRI examination efficiency in other conditions.