An investigation into the psychological anxiety of Maltese women before and after a mammogram

Abstract

Mammography is the standard procedure that is used in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Despite its beneficial effects, it has also been associated with psychological distress in women attending for a mammogram. Maltese women are very conscious of breast cancer and almost everyone knows someone who was diagnosed with the disease. Consequently a vast number of women are referred for a mammogram for reassurance. Whether these women are anxious or not is not known. This unknown factor motivated the author to undertake the study to ascertain whether or not Maltese women were psychologically anxious when they attend for a mammogram. The study involved the participation of 150 Maltese women aged 35 years and over who attended for a mammogram at the main NHS hospital on the Islands. The women were equally divided into two groups. Each individual group consisted of 75 women either without family history or with a family history of breast cancer. Anxiety levels immediately before and immediately after the mammogram were measured using the State and Trait Inventory for Adults developed by C.D. Spielberger. A quantitative cross-sectional non-experimental design was used to analyse the State (S-anxiety) anxiety of the women. The Paired Sample Test, the one way ANOV A and the Pearson Correlation were used to analyse the data collated. From the statistical analysis it resulted that Maltese women in both groups were significantly more anxious before than after the procedure. A positive correlation existed between their pre and post mean S-anxiety levels. When the two groups were compared between each other it resulted in no significant difference between their mean S-anxiety levels. A negative relationship existed between the women's age and their S-anxiety levels. From the results obtained the researcher concluded that Maltese women were anxious because of the procedure, irrespective of whether they had a family history or not. There was no difference in the anxiety levels of the two groups when compared to each other. It was also concluded that if the women were anxious before the procedure they remained anxious after the procedure. From the correlation analysis it transpired that the younger the women were, the more anxious they felt. Certain recommendations concluded the study. Amongst these, it was recommended that detailed infom1ation and explanation should be given to the women prior to the mammogram. Moreover, further studies should be undertaken to investigate the reasons why Maltese women were anxious before the procedure.