title: Counselling interventions to address the psychological consequences of screening mammography: a randomised trial.
abstract: We examined the effectiveness of offering counselling to women undergoing screening mammography who are recalled for further investigations that do not lead to a diagnosis of cancer. Women were randomised to being offered either face-to-face (n = 66) or telephone counselling (n = 68) or usual care (n = 71) at the recall clinic after being told that their screen-detected abnormality was not cancer. The PCQ (a reliable and valid measure of the psychological consequences of screening mammography) measured the emotional, social and physical functioning of women at the recall clinic (Time 1) and after the counselling intervention (Time 2). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) showed no main effects for intervention on Time 2 levels of functioning after adjustment for the respective covariate of Time 1 functioning. Time 1 levels significantly predicted Time 2 levels of functioning. When data were analysed according to whether women actually received any type of counselling versus not receiving counselling, participation in counselling was associated with lower scores on dysfunction scales at Time 2, after adjusting for Time 1 levels.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Wellington Road, Clayton, Vic 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: Lyn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bowland
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cockburn
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cawson
authors.forename: Heather Christensen
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moorehead
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kenny
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003376:Counseling; D003863:Depression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged