SCREENING MAMMOGRAPHY

ANXIETY AND PAIN ASSOCIATED, AN EXPERIENCE AT BENAZIR BHUTTO HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background: Worry about risk for breast cancer and pain are associated with
mammography use. Both have been found to be a barrier to mammography use by women.
Objective: To examine the anxiety and pain associated with mammography use in a sample of
women stratified according to breast cancer risk. Design: This prospective observational study.
Setting: Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Benazir Bhutto Hospital. Period: August
2011 to June 2012. Patients & Methods: Women awaiting screening mammography in the
reception area were asked to complete a questionnaire containing demographics for calculation
of breast cancer risk and the Likert scale for anxiety before the procedure and VAS for
assessment of pain after the procedure. Results: Our study included 100 women undergoing
screening mammography with an average age of 53.9±8.8 years. 15% were classified “higher
risk” by the Gail model. The average anxiety level was 4.03±1.3 on Likert scale and average pain
during the procedure was 3.3±2.18 on VAS. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found
between average and higher risk groups. Conclusions: The population of women in this sample
appears to have a level of breast cancer worry and procedure related pain that is proportional
with their risk for developing breast cancer.