Psychological effects of recall after mammography

Abstract

Mammogram is one of the methods for diagnosing and screening breast cancer. Although many cases of mammography are negative or represent benign breast disease, the call of those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer symptoms in their mammograms is an integral part of this screening. Exposure to anxiety and depression in women who recalled to radiology centers for mammography can have a harmful effect on patients. Considering the lack of similar studies in Iranian population, the aim of this study was to investigate the psychological effects of recalling patients after mammography. Materials and Methods: In this observation study, which is performed as a cohort study, women admitted to Alzahra Hospital in Tabriz, in the winter 2017 who referred for mammography, completed the HADS questionnaire as receiving basic scores for depression and anxiety. Of these, 84 patients who required recall based on the results of previous mammogram selected and completed HADS questionnaire for second stage. Patients' information such as age, family history and touching mass are recorded by the data collection form, and psychological problems are also examined by the HADS questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS v.19 software. Findings: In this study, 86 women who were screened for mammography were evaluated. The mean age was 47 ± 8 years. Based on the HADS questionnaire, the mean anxiety score before mammography was 10.2 4.8 and after the recall was 13.2 ± 4.2, which was statistically significant (P <0.001). Also, depression score in patients before mammography was 10.7 ± 3.8 and after the recall was 12.6 ± 3.6 (P <0.001). With increasing age of patients, the difference in the anxiety score before mammogram and after recall was decreased (P-value = 0.038). However, there was no relationship between age and depression scores (P-value = 0.184). None of other variables like educational level, familial history of breast cancer and mass sensation had an effect on the increase in anxiety and depression score in patients before mammogram and after recall.