An evaluation of pain experienced by patients during and after ultrasound-guided breast biopsy and patient coping strategies.

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain the experience and determinants of pain by breast biopsy patients and how the pain is managed in the first week following the procedure.

DESIGN

This was a panel longitudinal study design.

SETTINGS: The study was conducted at the Radiology Department of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

The study participants comprised adult patients who presented to the Department of Radiology of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for breast biopsy between 1 August 2022 and 31 January 2023.

MAIN OUTCOME: The severity of biopsy-related pain, its associated factors and management were evaluated and documented.

RESULTS

The participants were between 21 and 81 years with a mean age of 48.1 years. There was no association between demographic and participant factors and the degree of pain experienced by the patient. There was a significant association between the radiologist's expertise (p<.001), blood pressure before the procedure (p=.026), quality of education given to the participant before the procedure (p<.001) and the degree of pain experienced.

CONCLUSION

There was significant anxiety before the procedure. Most participants experienced mild pain, which did not interfere with daily activity. There was a significant association between participant pain and pre-procedure blood pressure, the radiologist's expertise and the quality of education participants received before the biopsy.

FUNDING: None declared.