Needle Localization for Breast Biopsy: The Patient's Experience

<p>The needle localization procedure for breast biopsy (NLP) can be painful and distressing for some women. This study was carried out to learn what factors might increase or decrease NLP pain and distress, and to gain insight into possible interventions to make the procedure more comfortable for all patients. One hundred and thirty-eight women were surveyed following breast needle localization at two central Virginia hospitals. The influence of eight variables (lidocaine, self-regulation, anxiety, worry about breast cancer, breast tenderness, finding mammography painful, difficulty with surgery, and distress of blood drawing) on four outcome variables (pain incidence, pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, and distress) was evaluated. The unpleasantness and intensity of pain proved to be highly correlated and were collapsed into one combined variable, painfulness.</p> <p>The results suggest that although lidocaine did not eliminate all pain, women who were given lidocaine were less likely to experience pain than those who were not given lidocaine. Although self-regulation did not appear to reduce the incidence of pain, the use of self-regulation strategies, particularly social support, did appear to reduce the intensity and unpleasantness of pain (painfulness) experienced during the breast needle localization procedure. Experiencing pain increased distress, with no statistically significant alleviation of distress from lidocaine or self-regulation. Regression analysis revealed significant relationships between generally finding mammography painful and ratings of NLP painfulness, and between prior anxiety about the NLP and finding the experience distressing.</p> <p>These results are discussed in light of their treatment implications. It appears that women undergoing breast needle localization should be given lidocaine, and should be encouraged to practise some form of self-regulation. Patients may especially benefit from the presence of a friend or relative, or the kindness, encouragement, considerate touch, or clear information offered by clinic staff. It may be wise to identify women who generally find mammography painful or who are anxious about the NLP before the procedure for special support.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

1999

Author dc:creator

• Morgan, Marian De Walt

Contributors dc:contributor

• Barbara Winstead
• Michelle Kelley
• J. D. Ball
• Janis Sanchez-Hucles
• Joseph Dane

• Anxiolytic
• Breast biopsy
• Mammography
• Needle localization
• Patient's experience
• Self-regulation
• Clinical Psychology
• Oncology
• Surgery

Statement dc:rights

• <p>In Copyright. URI: <a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/</a> This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).</p>

Identifier

9780599754676

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.odu.edu:psychology_etds-1213