title: Objective analyses of mastalgia in breast clinics: is breast pain questionaire a useful tool in a busy breast clinic?
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of use of breast pain questionnaire (BPQ), a short, focussed and robustly designed tool to assess severity of mastalgia and its impact on quality of life, in a busy breast clinic. Seventy-four consecutive women completed BPQ prior to their consultation with a Breast Surgeon. Based on the BPQ score, mastalgia was graded as mild (score 0-100) in 26%, moderate (score 101-200) in 59% and severe (score >200) in 15% of patients. In 93% of patients breast pain lasted for more than 5 days and visual analogue score (VAS) was more than 3.5 in 82% of patients. The breast pain was described as mild (12%) discomforting (55%), distressing (22%) excruciating (3%) or horrible (8%). All results are presented as median (interquartile ranges). Out of maximum possible 100, overall pain rating was 17(9-31), percent sensory component was 21(12-33) and percent affective component was 0(0-17). The percent VAS was 60(40-80), percent pain index was 40(40-60) and quality of life score (maximum possible 60) was 20(0-40). Of maximum possible score of 360, total breast pain was 137(99-180). In conclusion BPQ can be used routinely in a busy breast clinic as a quick, user-friendly and reliable tool to assess the degree and severity of breast pain in order to provide an organised approach to the management of mastalgia.
authors.affiliation: Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley DY1 2HQ, UK. homepac@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Carmichael
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bashayan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nightingale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001940:Breast; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*