An evaluation of pain experienced by patients during and after ultrasound-guided breast biopsy and patient coping strategies

Objective: To ascertain the experience and determinants of pain by breast biopsy patients and how the pain is managed in the first week following the procedure. Design: This was a panel longitudinal study design. Settings: The study was conducted at the Radiology Department of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Participants: The study participants comprised adult patients who presented to the Department of Radiology of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for breast biopsy between 1 August 2022 and 31 January 2023. Main Outcome: The severity of biopsy-related pain, its associated factors and management were evaluated and documented. Results: The participants were between 21 and 81 years with a mean age of 48.1 years. There was no association between demographic and participant factors and the degree of pain experienced by the patient. There was a significant association between the radiologist's expertise (p<.001), blood pressure before the procedure (p=.026), quality of education given to the participant before the procedure (p<.001) and the degree of pain experienced. Conclusion: There was significant anxiety before the procedure. Most participants experienced mild pain, which did not interfere with daily activity. There was a significant association between participant pain and pre-procedure blood pressure, the radiologist’s expertise and the quality of education participants received before the biopsy.