Premedication to reduce discomfort during screening mammography

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Oncology
• Pain Management

Background:

• Screening mammography can cause discomfort, potentially deterring women from attending regular screenings.
• Patient satisfaction and willingness to undergo future screenings are influenced by the mammography experience.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and/or 4% lidocaine gel in reducing discomfort during screening mammography.
• To assess the impact of these premedications on patient satisfaction and future screening intentions.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial involving 418 women anticipating significant mammography discomfort.
• Randomized assignment to receive acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and/or 4% lidocaine gel.
• Discomfort and satisfaction measured using visual analog scales; future screening plans assessed via binary logistic regression.

Main Results:

• Lidocaine gel significantly reduced mammography discomfort (P = .01).
• Higher discomfort was negatively correlated with patient satisfaction (P < .001).
• Satisfaction and fear of discomfort significantly influenced plans for future mammography (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• 4% lidocaine gel effectively reduces discomfort during screening mammography.
• Alleviating discomfort may enhance patient satisfaction and increase adherence to future mammographic screening.
• Improved screening adherence can contribute to earlier breast cancer detection.