Annual Mammography Screening: Is It Necessary - Essay Example

? Annual Mammography Screening: Is It Necessary? Introduction: Hegar et al had conducted a study on the process of annualmammography on women and its need. Their concern of the study was focused on the women being diagnosed with breast cancer within a year of a formerly benign mammogram, benign mammograms referring to Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System 1 or 2. The study concerns the time span between the mammograms and the diagnosis of the cancer as it also focused on the concerns in the delay of the diagnosis (Hegar et al, 2012, p.104). The present study discusses critically the research design and methodology of the above mentioned study and analyses the steps of the research process involving the discussion associated with issues like relevance, sample selection, biasness, generalization, internal and external validity and reliability. Critical Review of the Research Design and Methodology of the Study: As far as the research design and methodology of the study is concerned, it can be said that the study has not been based on a widened approach of coming to any proper conclusion. This is primarily because the only the patients review of a particular medical centre have been considered for the study depending on which an understanding of the need for screening mammography has been tried to be justified. The methodology does not prove to include enough research work or enough evidence supporting the concerns of the study. Only a particular section of the patients in the medical centre has been involved in the review and very little secondary research work has been considered. Hence it can be criticised that the study has not been provided enough time and research efforts such that it may be able to contribute to breast cancer diagnosis in women significantly. Analysis of the Research Steps: Issues Associated with the Study: The research study has included the reviews on the patients considered for the study. These included only patients who had both the diagnostic mammograms and previous mammograms performed at the particular institute of Breast Cancer Registry at Methodist Dallas Medical Center. The sample size of this study has been 205 patients, age ranging from 34 to 92 years, including individuals from different races. The patients have been studied to determine the time span after which the patients reflected diagnosis of the cancer post the performed screening mammography. Certain secondary studies have also been considered in the research that tried to determine the effects or benefits of screening mammography on a regular term (Hegar et al, 2012, pp.104-106). Considering the relevance of the study with the researches conducted, it can be said that the researchers had involved relevant data in their study as far as understanding the need for mammography is concerned. However the evaluation of the information available has not been conducted effectively towards any proper conclusion. The information is not sufficient to state anything evidently towards the need for mammography. This is primarily because the sample size of the study is very small and limited to a particular medical centre. Hence it can be said that the selection of the sample has not been suitable considering the broad and wide approach of the concern of the study. Considering the biasness of the study, it can be criticized that the study from the beginning till the end has tried to focus on the fact that screening mammography every two years might delay the process of diagnosis, or that such screenings are needed on a regular basis for early diagnosis and treatment of the cancer patient. Although based on some studies, the negative effects of regular mammography have also been mentioned, but the study has been focused on a particular point before it could be proved through evidences. It is true that the study has not been based on the selection of the patients in biased pattern and that the patients were selected from all races. Although the intension of the study was to determine an understanding on a particular issue, but the evaluation of the study and the sources in the research has been too general to determine anything in particular. The study has obtained patients who reflected the diagnosis of cancer 12 months or 18 months within the occurrence of screening mammography on the individual. However, nothing much conclusive might be drawn from these results. Decrease of the mortality in patients with the regular screening mammography in place has been studied in some other studies as considered in the research. However, again these are limited studies and unless a broader study including a large sample is not considered, the conclusion cannot be effectively administered. Considering the validity of the study, it can be analysed and said that unless the study is capable of considering a large sample, and evaluate results effectively, the validity of the study cannot be realized in the wide study and analysis of the topic of concern. The issue can be realized to be an essential one where the need for mammography and its effects or benefits needs to be understood for its suitable application in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The study lacks internal validity since the only involved research is based on a few samples of a single medical centre, while it may be possible that patients on a large scale might reflect different results on the similar screenings and treatment measures. Externally the validity of the study also reflects a lack in effectiveness since there is a biasness associated with the study where the benefits of the regular mammography have been provided with greater supports and concern. From the above analysis of the study, the reliability of the study also creates questions and doubts as the small sample size, the biasness, the generalization and the highly limited number of sources being considered in the study. The study does not prove to be effective in its evaluation or justification of statements. There are certain confused and contradictory statements as well reflected through the study. For instance the study focuses on the need for regular mammography and that the process being in place every two years might delay the process of diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, at one point of the study was based on a secondary source, the negative effect of mammography associated with radiation exposure have also been mentioned. Thus, it is not very clear from the study as to what it actually tried to prove, and hence it cannot be considered to be much reliable. Conclusion: From the above analysis, a study conducted on the need for mammography has been critically overviewed. The study being based on a small size of sample, being biased on one belief and not considering the other factors effectively or evidently, being too generalized to draw a conclusion, cannot be considered to be either valid or reliable to contribute in such an essential concern associated with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in women. It can thus be said that further studies are necessary in this regard. Reference 1) Hegar, V. et al (2012). Annual Mammography Screening: Is It Necessary?, The American Surgeon, 78(1), pp.104-106 Read More