PAIN AND DISCOMFORT DURING MAMMOGRAPHY

The aim of this prospective study was to investigate associations of m ammography pain and discomfort with sociodemographics, personal histor y and psychological and situational factors. Subjects were women with a negative screening finding (n = 883) from a random sample of 50-year -old Finnish women attending their first breast cancer screening. Ques tionnaires were sent 1 month before the screening invitation and 2 mon ths after screening. Sixty-one per cent reported painful and 59% uncom fortable mammograms (4% severely). Linear regression analyses showed t hat anticipation of pain and discomfort was the most powerful factor e xplaining pain and discomfort among women with earlier mammography. Ho wever, it had no effect among women without earlier mammography, for w hom screening-related nervousness and perceptions of staff were crucia l. Suggested interventions include better information before screening , a friendly screening atmosphere and empathetic, supportive staff beh aviour, especially towards women having their first mammogram, encoura ging them to feel more at ease and distracted from pain. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd