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Evidence summaries

Interventions for Relieving the Pain and Discomfort of Screening Mammography

Provision of verbal or written information about the procedure prior to a mammogram may reduce pain and discomfort of the procedure. Level of evidence: "C"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 7 studies with a total of 1 671 subjects. Each study looked at a different intervention to reduce pain in mammography and the results could dot be combined. Giving women information about the procedure prior to the mammogram may reduce pain and discomfort. Increasing women's control over breast compression could reduce pain experienced during the procedure, though mammogram image quality was only maintained if the technologist controlled the first compression. If the technologist reduced compression force of the mammogram, discomfort experienced was unchanged. The use of breast cushions reduced pain of mammography; however, image quality was impaired in 2% of women in the intervention group. Acetoaminophen as a premedication did not affect discomfort of mammography.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (inadequate or unclear allocation concealment) and by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes).

    References

    • Miller D, Livingstone V, Herbison P. Interventions for relieving the pain and discomfort of screening mammography. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2008 Jan 23;(1):CD002942. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords