The effects of different kinds of information on women attending an out-patient breast clinic

Abstract

The study evaluates an intervention aimed at reducing anxiety in women attending a breast clinic. The intervention was the sending of written information prior to the appointment. A comparison was made of three types of information: that dealing with clinic procedures, that dealing with the outcome of breast problems and that designed to increase perceived control. A total of 154 women were randomly allocated to one of these three information groups or to a control group (no information). Women attending the clinic completed questionnaires assessing anxiety and worries, knowledge, locus of control and satisfaction with information. Women receiving information had lower state anxiety and were less anxious about the examination and about what the doctor might find than the controls. They also perceived their problem as less serious, and were less likely to perceive their health as being due to chance, than the controls. The only difference between the information groups was that those receiving coping or outcome information were less worried about what the doctor might find than those receiving procedural or no information.