October 2, 2009 – Women diagnosed with an abnormal mammogram must wait a few days, sometimes a few weeks, to see their final results. “A waiting period during which these women are sometimes left to their own devices, while they need information and psychosocial support,” says Chantal Doré, professor of nursing at the University of Sherbrooke.
Chantal Doré and her research team completed a study carried out in collaboration with the Center de santé des femmes de l’Estrie and the Quebec Breast Cancer Screening Program (PQDCS)1.
“Our survey revealed that women have to experience many waiting times following an abnormal mammogram diagnosis,” says Chantal Doré. From receipt of the PQDCS letter to surgery, the report identifies up to 10 waiting periods. The researchers took into account as much the few hours spent in a waiting room for an ultrasound as the waiting period for the results of a biopsy, which can take up to 10 days.
Stress and anxiety
During these waiting periods, women feel a lot of worry and sometimes high stress. Some are even in shock. No psychological support is systematically offered. So much so that most of the time, they only have family members to help them manage their anxiety, says the nurse.
Often, to reassure them, it would suffice for them to obtain information on the progress of the screening and diagnosis process, the nature of the examinations and results, the treatments and their potential dangers, she adds.
Better train workers
“Our study revealed a major flaw in the breast cancer screening program,” says Chantal Doré. “Even health care providers who participated in the study said they would need additional training to support anxious women. For example, medical secretaries, often the first to receive calls from worried women, should also be trained to reassure them, ”she says.
“The good news is that measures can be put in place quickly to better train health workers; and this at little cost since the resources are already available in the community, reassures Chantal Doré. We would especially like to prevent some women from refusing to come for a second screening test following a negative experience of stress. “
The study involved 20 women from the Eastern Townships, aged 50 to 69, who had received an abnormal screening mammogram result and were awaiting further examinations or results, as well as 12 health workers including secretaries. , technologists and general practitioners or anesthesiologists. The level of anxiety and the emotions felt by the women in the face of this waiting situation were assessed using interviews, a logbook and a focus group allowing them to discuss their experience. . Some of these women had had mammograms in the past and 4 of them were diagnosed with cancer after the waiting period. The workers were questioned about the nature of their work, the resources available and the difficulties encountered in this situation.
Emmanuelle Bergeron – PasseportSanté.net
1. Doré C, Gallagher F et al. Needs of women in the Eastern Townships awaiting examination results under the Quebec Breast Cancer Screening Program, June 2009.
