Patients' perceptions and expectations of stereotactic VACB biopsy v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Patients’ perceptions and expectations of stereo tactic vacuum-assisted core biopsy of the breast. A prospective questionnaire study.
IRAS ID
160042
Contact name
Julie Shephard
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 6 months, 30 days
Research summary
Stereo tactic vacuum assisted core biopsy (VACB) of the breast is a needle test, when a sample of breast tissue is taken, in order to obtain a diagnosis of benign or malignant breast disease. Recent guidelines published in 2010 in the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) have led to an increase in VACB procedures undertaken nationally.
Research has been published extensively with regard to the effectiveness of this technique in taking samples of breast tissue but there is a lack of published evidence that captures the patient’s perceptions and experience of the procedure. The Darzi Report (2008) issued by the Government states that positive patient experiences are vital to ensure ‘high quality care’ is delivered.
The study has two main areas of investigation:
- to examine what the patient perceives of the procedure.
- to examine what they physically experience.The study will involve patients for whom it has been decided by the Imaging specialist that they will be required to undergo a stereo-tactic vacuum assisted core biopsy to obtain a definitive diagnosis of either benign or malignant disease of the breast.
A questionnaire will be given to the patient for them to fill in at home after the biopsy. They will be asked to bring it back with them when they come to receive their biopsy results.
The questionnaire will be used to assess
• the adequacy of information given to the patient before and during the procedure.
• the level of pain and/or bruising experienced.
• the perceptions and the expectations they had of the procedure.By evaluating the responses given will enable the current practice undertaken to be assessed and guidance developed as to how to improve the experience for the patient.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/YH/1283
Date of REC Opinion
26 Nov 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion