The effectiveness of a telehealth program on the anxiety levels among women with core needle biopsy for suspected breast cancer

Abstract

Aim This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a telehealth program on anxiety levels among women underging core needle biopsy for suspected breast cancer. Samples and setting A quasi-experimental research study was conducted at a university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Seventy women with breast lumps scheduled for a core needle biopsy were enrolled. Methods Thirty-five women with breast lumps were assigned to participate in the telehealth program plus routine care, while another group of thirty-five women received only routine care. Data was collected using a demographic data questionnaire and visual analogue scale (VAS). These tools assessed the patients’ anxiety levels once before participating in the program (on admission to hospital) and twice after participating in the program (before the biopsy and on the day of follow-up). The telehealth program consisted of educating, consulting and monitoring patients via the LINE messaging application and handbooks for women receiving a core needle biopsy with routine care. Results The study group had statistically lower anxiety levels than that of the control group both before biopsy (p = 0.003) and on the day of follow-up (p = 0.001). In addition, the study group had statistically lower anxiety levels after participating in the program, both before biopsy (p = 0.045) and on the day of follow-up (p = 0.002). Conclusions The telehealth program can be used to care for patients that have been scheduled for core needle biopsy in order to reduce their anxiety.