This study investigated how time from breast biopsy recommendation to biopsy procedure affected pre-biopsy anxiety (N = 140 women), and whether the relationship between wait time and anxiety was affected by psychosocial factors (chronic life stress, traumatic events, social support). Analyses showed a significant interaction between wait time and chronic life stress. Increased time from biopsy recommendation was associated with greater anxiety in women with low levels of life stress. Women with high levels of life stress experienced increased anxiety regardless of wait time. These results suggest that women may benefit from shorter wait times and receiving strategies for managing anxiety.
AikenLSWestSG (1991) Multiple Regression: Testing and Interpreting Interactions. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.
2.
AndrykowskiMACarpenterJSStudtsJL. (2001) Adherence to recommendations for clinical follow-up after benign breast biopsy. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment69: 165–178.
3.
AndrykowskiMACarpenterJSStudtsJL. (2002) Psychological impact of benign breast biopsy: A longitudinal, comparative study. Health Psychology21: 485–494.
4.
Ashing-GiwaKGanzP (1997) Understanding the breast cancer experience of African American women. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology17: 47–62.
5.
BradleyPKBerryALangC. (2006) Getting ready: Developing an educational intervention to prepare African American women for breast biopsy. Association of Black Nursing Faculty Journal17: 15–19.
6.
BrettJAustokerJ (2001) Women who are recalled for further investigation for breast screening: Psychological consequences 3 years after recall and factors affecting re-attendance. Journal of Public Health Medicine23: 292–300.
7.
BrewinCRAndrewsBValentineJD (2000) Meta-analysis of risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder in trauma-exposed adults. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology68: 748–766.
8.
BugbeeMEWellischDKArnottIM. (2005) Breast core-needle biopsy: Clinical trial of relaxation technique versus medication versus no intervention for anxiety reduction. Radiology234: 73–78.
9.
ChangSDAbrahamsZGordonPB (2005) Patient compliance with recommended follow-up after fine-needle aspiration biopsy of solid breast masses. Canadian Association Radiologists Journal56: 36–39.
10.
DeaneKDegnerL (1998) Information needs, uncertainty, and anxiety in women who had a breast biopsy with benign outcome. Cancer Nursing21: 117–126.
11.
DragesetSLindstromTCGiskeT. (2012) “The support I need”: Women’s experiences of social support after having received breast cancer diagnosis and awaiting surgery. Cancer Nursing35: E39–E47.
12.
FloryNLangEV (2011) Distress in the radiology waiting room. Radiology260: 166–173.
13.
GutweinLGAngDNLiuH. (2011) Utilization of minimally invasive breast biopsy for the evaluation of suspicious breast lesions. The American Journal of Surgery202: 127–132.
14.
HardingMM (2014) Incidence of distress and associated factors in women undergoing breast diagnostic evaluation. Western Journal of Nursing Research36: 475–494.
15.
LandercasperJLinebargerJHEllisRL. (2010) A quality review of the timeliness of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in an integrated breast center. Journal of the American College of Surgeons210: 449–455.
16.
LangEBerbaumKSLutgendorfS (2009) Large-core breast biopsy: Abnormal salivary cortisol profiles associated with uncertainty of diagnosis. Radiology250: 631–637.
17.
LangEBerbaumKSFaintuchS. (2006) Adjunctive self-hypnotic relaxation for outpatient medical procedures: A prospective randomized trial with women undergoing large core breast biopsy. Pain126: 155–164.
18.
LebelSJakubovitsGRosbergerZ. (2003) Waiting for a breast biopsy. Psychosocial consequences and coping strategies. Journal of Psychosomatic Research55: 437–443.
19.
LiaoMNChenMFChenSC. (2008) Uncertainty and anxiety during the diagnostic period for women with suspected breast cancer. Cancer Nursing31: 274–283.
20.
LiaoMNChenPLChenMF. (2010) Effect of supportive care on the anxiety of women with suspected breast cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing66: 49–59.
21.
LindforsKKO’ConnorJParkerRA (2001) False-positive screening mammograms: Effect of immediate versus later work-up on patient stress. Radiology218: 247–253.
22.
MaxwellJRBugbeeMEWellischD. (2000) Imaging-guided core needle biopsy of the breast: Study of psychological outcomes. Breast Journal6: 53–61.
23.
MontgomeryGHBovbjergDHSchnurJB. (2007) A randomized clinical trial of a brief hypnosis intervention to control side effects in breast surgery patients. Journal of the National Cancer Institute99: 1304–1312.
24.
MontgomeryGHDavidDGoldfarbAB. (2003) Sources of anticipatory distress among breast surgery patients. Journal of Behavioral Medicine26: 153–164.
25.
NorthouseLLJeffsMCracchiolo-CarawayA. (1995) Emotional distress reported by women and husbands prior to a breast biopsy. Nursing Research44: 196–201.
26.
NovyDMNelsonDVGoodwinJ. (1993) Psychometric comparability of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for different ethnic subpopulations. Psychological Assessment5: 343–349.
27.
OzerEJBestSRLipseyTL. (2003) Predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and symptoms in adults: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin129: 52–73.
28.
PhillipsJSmithED (2001) Breast cancer control and African American women: A review. Cancer Investigation19: 273–280.
29.
PikeJLSmithTLHaugerRL. (1997) Chronic life stress alters sympathetic, neuroendocrine, and immune responsivity to an acute psychological stressor in humans. Psychosomatic Medicine59: 447–457.
30.
PisanoEDEarpJSchellM. (1998) Screening behavior of women after a false-positive mammogram. Radiology208: 245–249.
31.
PooleK (1997) The emergence of the “waiting game”: A critical examination of the psychosocial issues in diagnosing breast cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing25: 273–281.
32.
PoweBFinnieR (2003) Cancer fatalism: The state of the science. Cancer Nursing26: 454–465.
33.
RoestAMMartensEJde JongeP. (2010) Anxiety and risk of incident coronary heart disease: A meta-analysis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology56: 38–46.
34.
RosenbergRDHaneuseSJGellerBM. (2011) Timeliness of follow-up after abnormal screening mammogram: Variability of facilities. Radiology261: 404–413.
35.
SergentanisTNZagouriFDomeyerP. (2009) Biopsy method: A major predictor of adherence after benign breast biopsy?American Journal of Roentgenology193: W452–W457.
36.
SherbourneCDStewartAL (1991) The MOS social support survey. Social Science & Medicine32: 705–714.
37.
SpielbergerCD (1983) Manual for the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory (Form Y). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
38.
SpielbergerCDGoruschRLLusheneR (1970) The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Oxford: Oxford Psychologists Press.
39.
SteinMBRoy-ByrnePPCraskeMG. (2005) Functional impact and health utility of anxiety disorders in primary care outpatients. Medical Care43: 1164–1170.
40.
ThorneSEHarrisSRHislopTG. (1999) The experience of waiting for diagnosis after an abnormal mammogram. Breast Journal5: 42–51.
41.
TurnerRJWheatonBLloydDA (1995) The epidemiology of social stress. American Sociological Review60: 104–125.
42.
US Preventive Services Task Force (2009) Screening for breast cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. Annals of Internal Medicine151: 716–726, W-236.
43.
ZografosGCSergentanisTNZagouriF. (2010) Breast self-examination and adherence to mammographic follow-up: An intriguing diptych after benign breast biopsy. European Journal of Cancer Prevention19: 71–72.
