Williamson, Siân Zena (2019) The communication of benign biopsy results in the National Health Service breast screening programme. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.

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Abstract

Attending a breast biopsy and receiving the results can be an anxious process. The method of delivering biopsy results could affect women’s experience of screening and resultant anxiety. The NHS Breast screening programme (NHSBSP) guidelines state that telephone results ‘should not be routinely offered’. Despite this, most English Breast Screening centres now deliver benign results by telephone, believing they are reducing the amount of time women spend anxiously waiting. However, concerns remain about the potential ‘harm’ of telephoning women with results.

This thesis aimed to investigate the impact of communication methods (telephone versus in-person) on women receiving a benign biopsy result from the NHSBSP, exploring the outcomes of patient anxiety, understanding of results and preferences for communication. This will inform future updates to policy guidelines for the communication of breast screening results in the NHSBSP.

Methods
A mixed methods approach was used with the overall research designed in 5 phases: Phase 1) A mixed-methods systematic review of current communication methods used in cancer screening programmes and the impact on attendees; Phase 2) A cross-sectional survey to record how results are currently being delivered in the NHSBSP, including qualitative data on NHSBSP staff views on communication methods; Phase 3) A cluster randomised crossover trial comparing women who have received a benign result by telephone versus in-person to measure anxiety and understanding of results. Phase 4) Qualitative interviews with women who have received a benign result from screening to explore communication preferences and reasons for these preferences; Phase 5) Mixed methods synthesis of the quantitative and qualitative data on attendee communication preferences from Phase 3 and Phase 4.

Item Type:	Thesis or Dissertation (PhD)
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer) R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Medical screening -- Great Britain, Medical screening -- Psychological aspects, Breast -- Cancer -- Diagnosis, Breast -- Needle biopsy, Breast -- Cancer
Official Date:	September 2019
Dates:	Date Event September 2019 UNSPECIFIED
Institution:	University of Warwick
Theses Department:	Warwick Medical School
Thesis Type:	PhD
Publication Status:	Unpublished
Supervisor(s)/Advisor:	Taylor-Phillips, Sian ; Sandhu, Harbinder ; Johnson, Rebecca E. ; Ellard, David R.
Sponsors:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) ;Public Health England
Format of File:	pdf
Extent:	362 leaves : illustrations
Language:	eng

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