Influence of the radiographer on the pain felt during mammography

Abstract

Mammography is the only useful examination in screening for breast cancer. Mortality from breast cancer can be reduced if women go regularly for a screening mammography. Moreover, it is still the key examination in diagnosis of breast diseases and in the follow-up of patients treated for breast cancer. Pain with mammography can deter women from going for regular screening or follow-up; therefore, it is important to reduce pain experience or discomfort from mammography. In this study we evaluate the impact of the "radiographer" on the pain risk during mammography by analysing questionnaires filled in by women and radiographers. Study results reveal that the opinion of the radiographer, the information and communication during the examination and the number of years of experience are important factors in pain and discomfort experience. The attitude of the radiographer plays an important role in the pain experience.

When health means suffering: mammograms, pain and compassionate care

“…One such (Van Goethem et al . ) not only sought the opinions of patients on staff, but also the views of radiographers on patients, and found poor correlation between the radiographers' views about the patients' experience and patients' own accounts.…”

Experiences and perceptions about undergoing mammographic screening: a qualitative study involving women from a county in Sweden

“…However, the conduct of the staff may affect this experience (Morris, 2015; Whelehan, Evans, & Ozakinci, 2017). Hence, the importance of staff’s concern for the women’s feeling of comfort in an exposed situation cannot be underestimated (Van Goethem et al, 2003). Interestingly, the attitude towards one’s own, as well as others’ decisions to participate, is often described as a certainty and may mirror the norm of acceptance when offered a benefit.…”

Client and practitioner perspectives on the screening mammography experience

“…Our findings support existing contentions that there is considerable variation in the pain experienced during mammography (Davey, ), and that pain can act as a deterrent to screening participation (Whelehan et al., ). One strategy shown to help reduce perceived pain and discomfort is for mammographers to enable women to feel that they are in control, as far as possible (van Goethem et al., ; Poulos & Llewellyn, ). While the mammographers believed that empowering clients was important, they sometimes experienced limitations in the extent to which it was feasible and found themselves taking a more authoritarian approach.…”

“…While the results for pain reduction were promising, the study was preliminary and further work would be needed before the intervention, which would involve equipment modification, could be implemented. Observational studies have identified non‐physical aspects of mammographic practice, largely concerning staff communication and caring skills, which can reduce reported pain and improve client satisfaction (Almog, Hagoel, Tamir, Barnett, & Rennert, ; van Goethem et al., ). However, while mammography training and culture may acknowledge these findings, they have not been translated into formal interventions.…”