Women's experience with breast biopsy

The purpose of this study was to obtain descriptions of the perioperative experiences of women who underwent breast biopsies with local anesthesia. Twenty-two participants were interviewed, and open-ended questions were used to allow the women to describe their experiences. Data analysis revealed three major themes--certitude, care, and justice. The women's most pervasive need was to have the biopsy results as soon as possible. They viewed the surgical phase of the biopsy as a stepping-stone to achieving certitude associated with having the pathology results. The surgical phase of the biopsy did not hold as much significance for the women as the researcher had anticipated.