Determination of The Anxiety Level of Women Who Presentfor Mammography

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: This paper was to examine the role of anxiety in mammography screening. Breast cancerscreening with mammography has been shown to be effective for preventing breast cancer death. Howevermammography screening can be harmful to women. One of the major problems is anxiety or lack of peace ofmind in mammography screening. Methodology: This study was conducted between November 3, 2007, andDecember 30, 2007, in Ordu Maternity and Childbirth Hospital. 93 women participated in the study. A 23-item questionnaire and the 20-item State Anxiety Inventory, developed by Spielberger et al. were completedby the participants. All numerical values were given as average ± standard deviation; p<0.05 was accepted forlevel of significance. <br/><b>Results</b>: The average age of the participants was 47.83±7.50, the average age at marriagewas 20.03±4.18, the average birth number 2.91±1.21, and the average age at menopause was 46.10±4.70. Theaverage anxiety level was found to be 46.20±4.9. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between educationlevel, age at marriage, status of doing breast self examination, status of having a mammography for a breastrelatedcomplaint, and the number of mammograms done. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: It was determined that women who hadmammography had a moderate level of anxiety.