The Art of Mammography With Respect to Positioning and Compression-A Swedish Perspective

In 2014, 8,023 women were diagnosed with breast cancer in Sweden. Screening mammography has been shown to reduce mortality in Sweden by 25%. Studies show that mammography examinations vary both in terms of positioning and compression affecting the image quality and the patient's experience of pain. Pain can affect participation in mammography screening. This study aims to describe how radiographers perceive the examination method used in mammography. The study was conducted using qualitative methods. Individual semistructured interviews were made with 13 radiographers working in six different mammography units. The material was analyzed by inductive manifest content analysis. Three main categories were identified: positioning of the patient, positioning of the detector, and compression. A fourth category, compliance, also emerged during the analysis work and was identified by the radiographers as being an important factor to be able to succeed with positioning and compression. The differences in the radiographer's methodology show that more research in technology relating to positioning and compression is needed for evidence-based guidelines.