One-stop breast unit: Acceptable levels of anxiety and good retention of information

Abstract

20624 Background: One-stop diagnosis for breast lesions might have potential deleterious consequences on affective functioning. As well, the level of retention of information after this single-day deserves exploration. We therefore prospectively explored emotional and cognitive states and functions of a consecutive series of patients (pts) seen at the One Stop Breast Unit of a single Institution. Patients and Methods: Pts with sub-clinical breast abnormalities addressed to the One-Stop Breast Unit during a 6 month (mo) period, were proposed to participate to this study. Emotional states and anxiety were self-evaluated at day -2, on day 1 before and immediately after diagnosis, at day 3 and at 3 months using Self Assessment Manikin, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Distress Thermometer questionnaires. Retention of information was evaluated on day 3 with specific questionnaires allowing to distinguish correct and incorrect recall. At 3 mo we used the revised Impact of Event Scale to evaluate the traumatic impact of diagnosis. Results: 279 pts filled the first form. 247 (88%) agreed to be evaluated on day 1, 61.5% answered the day 3 and 33% answered the 3 mo questionnaire. At day -2, 32% of pts were anxious of which 10% had severe anxiety. On day 1, only 10% of pts did not dominate their emotional states. After diagnosis, 24% pts reported high levels of distress, 20% emotional difficulties both significantly related to diagnosis (all p< .00001). At day 3, emotional scores appeared globally stable and 70–80% of information was correctly recalled, whatever the diagnosis and treatment proposed. Anxiety at day 3 significantly impaired information recall, but did not increase incorrect recall. At 3 mo, 28 % of the pts reported post-traumatic stress (35% of cancer pts), which was significantly correlated with emotional states and anxiety at day 3. Conclusions: While most pts have very acceptable emotional states before, during and after one stop breast assessment, 10% have severe anxiety before, and 10% do not dominate their emotional state during the day. Results are reassuring regarding the retention of correct information. Efforts have to be made to identify those pts who need early psychological care. No significant financial relationships to disclose.