Mammography-related anxiety: Effect of preprocedural patient education

Objectives: To determine the effect of preprocedural education on mammograp hy-related anxiety. Materials and Methods: A total of 613 women undergoing mammography were sur veyed regarding anxiety about the procedure and expected results. Half the study population watched an educational videotape and half watched an enter taining movie in the waiting room. Results: Anxiety levels about results were significantly higher than anxiet y levels about the procedure (P < .001). There was no difference in procedu ral or cancer anxiety levels among women shown the educational tape and tho se shown the entertaining movie. Conclusion: The fear of discovering breast cancer generates most of mammogr aphy-related anxiety. Preprocedural education did not affect procedural or cancer-related anxiety.