Table 5.

Thematic outcomes of reported patient experiences during the imaging testing–impact on emotion

Subtheme	Illustrative Quotes
Reassurance	A patient described the most important aspect of a mammogram: “I think it would be the freedom of mind. Just knowing that everything is fine and that that element of my life is taken care of. I’ve done what I can do. Even if I were to develop a tumor, or something, in my breast today, I would have thought, ‘Well, I did everything that I could,’ and we just deal with what we have in front of us and move forward. I think that it is the peace of mind, that’s what I mean, the peace of mind that I’ve done what I can do, and we just go forward from here.” (patient 42)
Worry	“Well, I was looking forward to it, so I was kind of anxious to get in and get it done, I guess I was anxious all morning until–I think I went in at one and had the ultrasound done.” (patient 40) “Just worried about if something was there. If they were to see something I wouldn’t know until they send it to the clinic.” (patient 07)
Disconnect from expectations	“I guess it wasn’t really clear to me what all that they were looking for, that nobody had explained it to me, either my physical therapist, my primary care doctor, anyone beforehand, just that … They had mentioned some degeneration, but I hadn’t really understood all what that meant, and I hadn’t questioned them about that. Being a retired nurse usually I’m very much the information seeker, but I’ve been really overwhelmed already this summer, and I didn’t probe like I normally do, and I, so I’m feeling kind of blindsided and overwhelmed now.” (patient 03)
Demeanor of medical staff	“I was a little nervous because I didn’t know what they were going to find. But they eased my mind. The ladies that did it, they were really good. They told me what they were doing and talked me through it. They let me see what they were seeing. I couldn’t understand it but they let me see what they were doing.” (patient 16) “It was kind of weird when we were talking just fine and then the more she had to click the buttons and the longer she had to measure things I did get a little more nervous because I figured she must’ve found something else.” (patient 13)