Impact of patient-controlled compression on the mammography experience.
The authors tested the hypothesis that giving women control over the compression portion of the mammography examination results in a less painful experience, greater overall patient satisfaction, and a radiographic image as good as that produced by means of technologist-controlled compression. One hundred nine women undergoing screening mammography at a hospital-based outpatient clinic were studied. Each underwent two-view, screen-film mammography performed in routine fashion except that, by random assignment, one breast was compressed by the technologist and the other breast, by the patient. Patient-controlled compression was significantly (P = .003) less painful than technologist-controlled compression. Overall patient satisfaction (96% [105 of 109]) and willingness to repeat the experience were extremely high. The majority of images (93.5% [202 of 216]) were rated as having good to excellent compression. With minimal patient education, self-compression resulted in an image at least as good as that produced with technologist-applied compression. Further study of this technique is warranted.
Kornguth
P J
PJ
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710.
Rimer
B K
BK
Conaway
M R
MR
Sullivan
D C
DC
Catoe
K E
KE
Stout
A L
AL
Brackett
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology