Conceptual frameworks for understanding the acceptability and feasibility of the minimally invasive autopsy to determine cause of death: Findings from the CADMIA Study in western Kenya.

Establishing the cause of death (CoD) is critical to better understanding health and prioritizing health investments, however the use of full post-mortem examination is rare in most low and middle-income counties for multiple reasons. The use of minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) approaches, such as needle biopsies, presents an alternate means to assess CoD. In order to understand the feasibility and acceptability of MIA among communities in western Kenya, we conducted focus groups and in-depth interviews with next-of-kin of recently deceased persons, community leaders and health care workers in Siaya and Kisumu counties. Results suggest two conceptual framework can be drawn, one with facilitating factors for acceptance of MIA due to the ability to satisfy immediate needs related to interest in learning CoD or protecting social status and honoring the deceased), and one framework covering barriers to acceptance of MIA, for reasons relating to the failure to serve an existing need, and/or the exacerbation of an already difficult time.

Does deep sedation with analgesia have positive effects on anxiety, pain and compliance in patients before and after prostate biopsy?

AIMS: To investigate whether deep sedation for transrectal prostate biopsy could reduce anxiety and pain and enhance rebiopsy compliance. METHODS: A two-centre prospective observation study was conducted under two different anaesthetic conditions: deep sedation with analgesia and local anaesthesia with lidocaine. A 12-core prostate biopsy was taken in all patients. Scores on a 0-10 visual analogue scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-X-1, the Beck Anxiety Inventory and a five-level Likert satisfaction scale were evaluated. Finally, all patients were asked about their willingness to undergo the same procedure again if necessary and whether they wanted to change the anaesthetic method (deep sedation to local anaesthesia or local to sedation) if a repeat procedure was required. RESULTS: A total of 135 patients were included in this study, including 69 patients in the sedation group and 66 patients in the local group. Lower pain scores (P < .001) and higher satisfaction scores (P = .019) were observed in the sedation group than in the local group after the procedure. Anxiety scores in the sedation group were significantly decreased after the procedure, whereas those were not changed in the local group. The question regarding rebiopsy compliance tended to be more positive in the sedation than in the local group (73.9% vs 62.1%, respectively, P = .099). The proportion of patients who wanted to change their anaesthetic method was much higher in the local than in the sedation group (68.2% vs 11.6%, respectively, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Deep sedation with analgesia during transrectal prostate biopsy could reduce pain and postprocedural anxiety and enhance rebiopsy compliance. Considering the psychological and oncological benefits, we strongly recommend inducing deep sedation during transrectal prostate biopsy.

Patient Anxiety, Pain, and Satisfaction With Image-Guided Needle Biopsy.

Image-guided percutaneous needle biopsy has become the preferred diagnostic modality for bone and soft tissue tumors. However, to the authors' knowledge, the levels of patient anxiety, pain, and satisfaction before and after the procedure have not been studied. Sixty-five patients undergoing image-guided needle biopsy of a possible bone or soft tissue tumor were prospectively surveyed to quantify preprocedure and postprocedure levels of anxiety and pain and to determine demographic and clinical correlates of anxiety, pain, and satisfaction. Anxiety was measured with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, pain was measured with a visual analog scale, and satisfaction was measured by patient willingness to repeat the procedure if necessary. Statistical analysis was performed with Student's t test, Fisher's exact test, and linear regression analysis. Compared with preprocedure values, trait anxiety (defined as the underlying level of anxiety, P<.0011), state anxiety (defined as the current level of situational anxiety, P<.001), and pain (P<.05) decreased significantly postprocedure. The relationship between changes in pain and state anxiety was significant (r=0.31, P=.014), whereas no relationship was seen between changes in pain and trait anxiety (r=0.13, P=.28). Patients who were somewhat satisfied with the procedure reported higher levels of postprocedure pain than those who were completely satisfied (5.24±2.19 cm vs 1.70±2.08 cm, respectively; P<.001). In other words, lower levels of experienced pain correlated with patient satisfaction. Older age was inversely correlated with postprocedure pain (r=0.41, P=.001), and there was a trend toward increasing dissatisfaction among younger patients.

Factors influencing the acceptance of transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to improve prostate biopsy compliance by analyzing the factors that influence the acceptance of prostate biopsy by patients to whom transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy is recommended for suspected prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of this study were 268 patients to whom TRUS-guided prostate biopsy was recommended from January to June 2011 and who completed a questionnaire. Patients who showed a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) increase to more than 4.0 ng/mL or abnormal findings on a digital rectal examination and TRUS were recommended to undergo prostate biopsy. The questionnaire consisted of 9 questions about the subjects' demographic characteristics and 15 questions that assessed their knowledge of prostate disease. Fisher exact probability test was conducted to assess the influence of the demographic characteristics and levels of knowledge of prostate disease on acceptance of prostate biopsy. RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects was 66.2 years (range, 43-83 years). Of the cohort, 188 patients (70.7%) agreed to the prostate biopsy and 78 patients (29.3%) refused. In terms of demographic characteristics, the patients' acceptance of prostate biopsy was associated only with education level. Patients with relatively lower education levels had a higher acceptance rate for prostate biopsy (80.0% vs. 65.9%, p=0.018). Other demographic factors, as well as the degree of knowledge of prostate disease, had no significant effect on the acceptance rate. CONCLUSIONS: The patients' acceptance of prostate biopsy can be influenced by demographic characteristics, especially education level. Therefore, when prostate biopsy is recommended to patients, their demographic characteristics should be taken into consideration.

Stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB)--a patients' survey.

AIM: To analyze how patients experience Stereotactic guided vacuum-assisted breast biopsy (VABB) both physically and mentally. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and eleven consecutive women underwent VABB using one of two different biopsy devices (ATEC® and Mammotome®). Patients were queried using a questionnaire. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-nine patients were included. 90% would again prefer VABB over a surgical biopsy. Average grading for the condition during the procedure was 2.5 (very good to good) and 2.1 (very good) for the condition the week following VABB. Minor complications were mentioned in 37%. (>90% pain and hematoma). 97% of the women were satisfied by the cosmetic results. Patients with malignant histology and younger age experienced the procedure significantly worse. A significant higher rate of minor complications was found in younger patients and in the ATEC® group. CONCLUSION: VABB is a physical and mental stressor to the women. Nonetheless, the majority of women indeed prefer the VABB.

Strategies of pain reduction during the bone marrow biopsy.

Examination of the bone marrow biopsy and aspirate allows diagnosis and assessment of various conditions such as primary hematologic and metastatic neoplasms, as well as nonmalignant disorders. Despite being performed for many years, according to many different protocols, the procedure still remains painful for the majority of patients. This paper summarizes the current knowledge of pain reduction measures in the bone marrow biopsy and aspiration.

[The anxiety level of the patients who will have ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy: a survey study].

In order to fully understand the anxiety level of the patients who will have ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy, and the survey results will guide the future clinical care to reduce the anxiety score of the patients, and to im-prove the satisfaction of them, which reflects the quality of care, we used Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) to investigate outpatients who will have ultrasound-guided puncture biopsy in a upper first-class hospital by convenience sampling way. The results showed that the SAS standard score of the patients was higher than the Chinese normal population's, and there is significant difference between the patients and the normal population's score (t = 47.12, P < 0.001). So for reducing the patients' anxiety level we should give health education and care intervention to the patients before the operation. This reflects the Patient-centered Culture and Excellent-quality Care in China.

The effect of noise-cancelling headphones or music on pain perception and anxiety in men undergoing transrectal prostate biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of noise-cancelling headphones with or without music on patient pain and anxiety associated with routine, office-based transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided prostate biopsy in a prospective randomized study. METHODS: Patients scheduled for prostate biopsy as a result of elevated prostate-specific antigen and/or abnormal digital rectal examination were prospectively enrolled and randomized into a control, noise-cancelling headphones, or music-headphones group. Patients completed pain and anxiety questionnaires and had their physiological parameters assessed before and after the procedure and compared across groups. RESULTS: Eighty-eight patients were enrolled. Pain scores increased from baseline across all study groups, with the lowest mean score in the music group. No appreciable change was noted in anxiety scores after the procedure between groups (P>.05). Although postbiopsy systolic blood pressure values remained comparable with baseline levels in all groups, postbiopsy diastolic blood pressure increased in the control and headphones groups (P=.062 and .088, respectively) but remained stable in the music group (P=.552) after biopsy, indicating lesser physiological response to anxiety and pain in this group. CONCLUSION: Music-induced attention shift during prostate biopsy may have a beneficial impact on procedural anxiety and pain perception, but no apparent effect was noted for use of headphones alone. Further studies are necessary to explore strategies to reduce perceived anxiety and pain in men undergoing prostate biopsy.

Age: "a natural anesthetic" in pain perception during the transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy procedure.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the age factor might influence the tolerance biopsy examination, and then choose the modality of a local or general anesthetic technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated 248 consecutive patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy for the first time. Each patient was treated under local anesthesia with lidocaine spray (10gr/100ml). Patients were divided into two groups according to age: Group A) 112 with age range ≤65 years, Group B) 136 with age range >65 years. Our first aim was to obtain a schedule of 14 biopsy samples in both groups. After the procedure each patient was given a verbal numeric pain scale (VNS), which was designed with 0 representing absence of pain and 10 the maximum pain they perceived in life. RESULTS: The average pain assessed with VNS was around 4.2 (2-8) and 2.8 (0-6) for the patients in Group A and Group B, respectively. The two groups appeared to be homogeneous in terms of pain perception regarding PSA value and gland volume, and appeared to have different pain scores with regard to age. In fact, the first group of patients, with the same anesthetic technique used, perceived more intense pain sensations related to acute biopsy. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we can say that a local anesthetic in clinical practice in the course of prostate biopsy is more sensitive if performed in a person aged 65 years.

[Tolerance of prostate biopsy with use of local anesthesia and benzodiazepines: a randomized, prospective study]. / Tolerancia a la biopsia prostática con el uso de anestesia local y benzodiacepinas: estudio prospectivo aleatorizado.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate biopsy is an uncomfortable procedure, and attempts are therefore being constantly made to try and decrease biopsy-related pain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A randomized, prospective study including 160 procedures was designed. Inclusion criteria were: first biopsy, PSA < 15 ng/mL, and age under 75 years. Patients were randomized into 4 groups. Group A was the control group, while group B received intracapsular anesthesia (8 mL of 2% lidocaine), group C 5 mg of oral clorazepate dipotassium one hour before biopsy, and group D both local anesthesia and clorazepate. Each patient completed a questionnaire including three 10-point visual analog scales for pain immediately after the procedure and 30 minutes later. RESULTS: Mean pain scores were 5.17 (group A), 1.72 (group B), 2.43 (group C), and 0.88 (group D) in the first questionnaire, and 1.71, 0.25, 0.75 and 0.35 respectively in the second questionnaire. Statistically significant differences were found in the ANOVA test. Group comparisons showed the following: 1. A vs B: statistically significant differences in both questionnaires (p = 0.006 and 0.011). 2. A vs C: a significant difference was found in the first questionnaire (0.051), but not in the second (0.012). 3. A vs D: significant differences in both questionnaires (0.001 and 0.010). No statistically significant differences were seen in both questionnaires (0.825 and 0.685) when benzodiazepines where added to local anesthesia (B vs D). CONCLUSION: Use of benzodiazepines as a single method to decrease biopsy-related pain is not warranted.

Patient satisfaction and efficacy of vacuum-assisted excision biopsy of fibroadenomas.

AIM: To establish the efficacy, complications, and patient satisfaction for vacuum-assisted biopsy (VAB) excision of fibroadenomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients referred for VAB of benign lesions from 11 December 2002 to 30 November 2006 were identified prospectively, and the following data were recorded: age, histology, lesion size, and completeness of excision. A questionnaire was sent at least a year after the procedure to assess pain, complications, residual palpable lesions, and cosmetic result. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-four patients were referred for VAB, 81 had fibroadenomas. Fifty-nine percent replied to the questionnaire. Fifty-four percent of patients reported no pain during the procedure, 8% rated their pain at > or =3/10. Thirty-two percent had no pain the week after the procedure, 55% had pain > or =3/10. Seventy-nine percent had no palpable mass at the site of the original lesion. Ninety-four percent would recommend the procedure to others and would prefer further VAB to surgery. Bruising was common, one patient required aspiration of a haematoma. Six percent developed infections, all resolved with antibiotic therapy. Eighty-five percent of patients were completely satisfied with the cosmetic result. Interval ultrasound was performed in 36 patients. A palpable mass was present in 11%, a non-palpable mass in 19%, and no mass in 70%. CONCLUSION: VAB excision is well-tolerated, safe, and popular with a high initial success rate for fibroadenomas. Bruising and pain are common the week after the procedure.

Large-core breast biopsy: abnormal salivary cortisol profiles associated with uncertainty of diagnosis.

PURPOSE: To determine whether uncertainty of the diagnosis after large-core breast biopsy (LCBB) adversely affects biochemical stress levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was institutional review board approved and HIPAA compliant, and all patients gave written informed consent. One hundred fifty women aged 18-86 years collected four salivary cortisol samples per day for 5 days after LCBB. t Tests were used to compare diurnal cortisol slopes among three groups: patients who did not have a final diagnosis (uncertain group), patients who knew they had cancer (known malignant group), and patients who knew they had benign disease (known benign group). RESULTS: Women learned their diagnosis on days 1-6 (mean, day 2.4) after LCBB. Analysis was truncated at day 5, when the data from a sufficient number of patients from each group were available for meaningful analysis: 16 patients from the known malignant group, 37 from the known benign group, and 73 from the uncertain group, which totaled 126 patients. The mean cortisol slope for the women with an uncertain diagnosis (-0.092 ln [microg/dL]/hr; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.113 ln [microg/dL]/hr, -0.072 ln [microg/dL]/hr) was significantly flatter (less desirable) than that for the women who learned that they had benign disease (-0.154 ln [microg/dL]/hr; 95% CI: -0.197 ln [microg/dL]/hr, -0.111 ln [microg/dL]/hr; P = .014) but not significantly different from that for the women who learned that they had malignant disease (-0.110 ln [microg/dL]/hr; 95% CI: -0.147 ln [microg/dL]/hr, -0.073 ln [microg/dL]/hr; P = .421). CONCLUSION: Uncertainty about the final diagnosis after LCBB is associated with substantial biochemical distress, which may have adverse effects on immune defense and wound healing. Results indicate the need for more rapid communication of biopsy results.

Is the pain level of patients affected by anxiety during transrectal prostate needle biopsy?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of anxiety on the pain level of patients during transrectal prostate needle biopsy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 160 consecutive patients underwent prostate biopsy. Group 1 consisted of 86 patients who received bilateral periprostatic infiltration of 5 cm(3) of 2% lidocaine. Group 2 included 74 patients and they received bilateral periprostatic infiltration of 5 cm(3) of 0.9% saline solution. The Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory was administered before the biopsy. The patients' mean pain scores were assessed by means of a visual analog scale (VAS) during digital rectal examination, probe insertion and biopsy. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 67.8 years (range 46-79 years). When the two groups were compared regarding the level of pain during DRE and probe insertion, no significant differences were found. The mean VAS score for biopsy was significantly lower in Group 1. In Group 1, the mean VAS scores were similar in patients with no and moderate trait anxiety levels. However, the mean VAS score was significantly higher in patients who had severe trait anxiety than in the others (p=0.002). In Group 2, the differences in VAS scores reached statistical significance between no and moderate, no and severe, and moderate and severe trait anxiety levels (p=0.001). When the state anxiety levels were considered, the mean VAS scores were significantly higher in patients with severe state anxiety scores in Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.003 and 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: We found a significant relationship between trait and state anxiety levels and pain scores in patients who underwent transrectal prostate needle biopsy.

Breast Cancer Screening: Women's Experiences of Waiting for Further Testing.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe anxiety experienced by participants in a breast cancer screening program who have received an abnormal screening mammography result and are waiting for further testing and diagnosis and to identify the social support needed during this period. DESIGN: Exploratory, descriptive. SETTING: Quebec Breast Cancer Screening Program (QBCSP) participants in Montreal, Canada. SAMPLE: Nonprobability sample of 631 asymptomatic women, aged 50-69, who had abnormal screening mammogram results in the two months prior to the survey and who spoke or read French or English. METHODS: Mailed self-report questionnaire. MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES: Anxiety, social support, and breast cancer screening. FINDINGS: Fifty-one percent of the participants were quite or very anxious at every stage of the prediagnostic phase. Seventy-five percent expressed their feelings to family and friends whose support was comforting but did not diminish participants' anxiety. Satisfaction from social support offered by healthcare professionals reduced their anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: To decrease anxiety in the prediagnostic phase, women need support from healthcare professionals during the early stage of the screening process to prevent exacerbation of their concerns. Support has to be integrated into a continuity-of-care process. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Nurses can play a significant role in breast cancer screening programs. They can evaluate, at an early stage, participant anxiety and offer the appropriate social support. They also can ensure the follow-up and personalized support required while a patient awaits a diagnosis.

Maternal-infant bonding and the mother's participation during venipuncture: a psychoanalytic perspective

Professionals discuss accompanying mothers' participation during painful procedures as a possibility of care to mother and child, but there is no consensus on this subject. To contribute to this topic, this study addresses the child's needs during venipuncture in a hospital environment and the mother's participation in this procedure, based on authors from psychoanalysis and mother-child bonding.

La participación de la madre acompañante junto al niño durante la realización de procedimientos dolorosos es discutida por profesionales como una posibilidad de cuidado al binomio, pero no hay un consenso sobre este tema. Para contribuir con esta discusión, el texto trata de las necesidades del niño durante la realización de la punción venosa en un ambiente de hospital y la participación de la madre en el procedimiento, tomando como base autores del psicoanálisis y el vínculo madre y hijo.

A participação da mãe acompanhante junto à criança durante a realização de procedimentos dolorosos é discutida pelos profissionais como uma possibilidade de cuidado ao binômio, porém, não há consenso quanto a esse tema. Para contribuir com essa discussão, o texto aborda as necessidades da criança durante a realização da punção venosa no ambiente hospitalar e a participação da mãe no procedimento, tendo como base autores da psicanálise e o vínculo na relação mãe e filho.

Extending the validity of the Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC) at the time of prostate biopsy in a racially-mixed population.

The Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer (MAX-PC) has been validated for assessing men with prostate cancer for cancer-specific anxiety. It was originally validated in a predominantly white population. The MAX-PC Prostate Cancer Anxiety Subscale (MAX-PC-PCAS) may be relevant for measuring cancer-specific anxiety in undiagnosed men at risk for prostate cancer. We assess the validity of the MAX-PC-PCAS at the time of prostate biopsy (n = 178). Questions assessed socio-demographic information, health status, patient-estimated risk of cancer, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale--Anxiety Subscale (HADS-A), and the MAX-PC-PCAS. The patients' most recent PSA was recorded. Cronbach's alpha, inter-item correlations, and Pearson correlations with both the HADS-A and clinical variables were compared with the original validation sample. Our sample was younger (63.1 vs 71.1 years), had a larger fraction of African-Americans (43 vs 10%), and had higher PSAs. Cronbach's alpha was equivalent (0.91 vs 0.90), median inter-item correlation was equivalent (0.63 vs 0.61), and Pearson correlation with HADS-A was higher (0.71 vs 0.57). Anxiety levels were not correlated with PSA levels, and there were minor differences in the validation findings by race. The validity of the MAX-PC-PCAS extends to men without cancer undergoing biopsy and to African-Americans.