OBJECTIVES: Patient experience is an important factor in mammography. Participation rates for repeat mammography remain low. The objective of this research was to understand patient perception to a patient-friendly equipment design and the effect of a patient-assisted compression device designed to change the mammography experience

METHODS: A questionnaire was developed with IPSOS Healthcare to collect responses from patients who were attending mammography in two clinics in France and Italy. Approval from hospital’s ethical committee was received. This study was conducted during February/March 2017. All respondents were interviewed immediately after having a mammography exam using the new equipment with the new patient-assisted compression device.

RESULTS: The survey included patients of varying experience with mammography. On an average the patients have had 6 previous mammograms (N=272). A majority (83%) of patients had a better overall experience than with previous systems (N=296). In this study, 50% of patients were not at all anxious (N=310) during the exam and 37% were less anxious as compared to their previous exams (N=298). Of those who used the patient-assisted compression feature (N=159), 80% responded that it made the exam more comfortable. 54% of the respondents said that the patient-assisted compression device led to less anxiety (N=156).

CONCLUSIONS: Patient-assisted compression may be a valuable feature in mammography. Previous study showed that patient-controlled compression was associated with reduced pain perception than technologist-controlled compression. To improve patient adherence to screening exams all such factors should be considered. In this study, the patient-assisted compression contributed to improving patient comfort and experience that may also contribute to increasing the participation rate of screening.

Note: Patient-assisted compression feature on this equipment is currently CE marked and commercially available in Europe