Determining the information needs of women after breast biopsy procedures

A focus group research study was conducted at a Canadian community hospital breast clinic to determine information needs of women who had experienced surgical breast biopsy procedures with benign results. Nine breast clinic patients who had benign breast biopsy results provided the researcher with findings related to this experience. The patients determined what they believed were the nine most important information needs during the diagnostic phase of a breast lump evaluation. These information needs emerged from the types of benign breast disease, the meaning of risk associated with benign breast disease developing into breast cancer, and the tests required to diagnose and treat benign breast disease. Perioperative nurses can use this information to plan and assess the care provided to women undergoing breast biopsy procedures.