E Guest1, N Paraskeva2, C Griffiths2, E Hansen3, A Clarke3, E Baker3, D Harcourt2. 1. Centre for Appearance Research, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom. Electronic address: ella.guest@uwe.ac.uk. 2. Centre for Appearance Research, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol BS16 1QY, United Kingdom. 3. Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Pond Street, Hampstead, London NW3 2QG, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Increasingly, women undergo breast reconstruction (BR) surgery to restore health-related and psychosocial quality of life after mastectomy. Most research focuses on BR outcomes rather than women's pre-surgical expectations of, and goals for, immediate (IBR) or delayed (DBR) procedures, yet such information could support women's decision-making. This study aimed to investigate women's BR goals, whether they differed according surgery timing (IBR or DBR), and the importance women placed on them. METHODS: Seventy-six women considering DBR (n = 50) or IBR (n = 26) at a UK hospital were encouraged to clarify their BR goals and rate the importance of achieving each one. Content analysis categorised and counted the frequency of the goals they reported. RESULTS: Fifteen goal categories (7 surgical, e.g. scarring; 8 psychosocial/lifestyle, e.g. feeling feminine) were identified. Many (e.g. scarring, intimacy) were reported by a similar percentage of women in each surgical group, however, differences were identified (e.g. breast sensation was not mentioned by women considering IBR). Women reported more psychosocial (n = 206) than surgical goals (n = 160). Further, an independent t-tests revealed that women in both groups placed significantly more importance on the psychosocial (M = 9.4) than surgical goals (M = 8.5). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the variety of goals women have for BR, the importance they attach to them, and differences and similarities between those seeking IBR and DBR. Future research should consider whether BR goals are met, how goal achievement influences satisfaction with outcome over time and how best to incorporate goals into pre-surgical treatment decision-making.
OBJECTIVES: Increasingly, women undergo breast reconstruction (BR) surgery to restore health-related and psychosocial quality of life after mastectomy. Most research focuses on BR outcomes rather than women's pre-surgical expectations of, and goals for, immediate (IBR) or delayed (DBR) procedures, yet such information could support women's decision-making. This study aimed to investigate women's BR goals, whether they differed according surgery timing (IBR or DBR), and the importance women placed on them. METHODS: Seventy-six women considering DBR (n = 50) or IBR (n = 26) at a UK hospital were encouraged to clarify their BR goals and rate the importance of achieving each one. Content analysis categorised and counted the frequency of the goals they reported. RESULTS: Fifteen goal categories (7 surgical, e.g. scarring; 8 psychosocial/lifestyle, e.g. feeling feminine) were identified. Many (e.g. scarring, intimacy) were reported by a similar percentage of women in each surgical group, however, differences were identified (e.g. breast sensation was not mentioned by women considering IBR). Women reported more psychosocial (n = 206) than surgical goals (n = 160). Further, an independent t-tests revealed that women in both groups placed significantly more importance on the psychosocial (M = 9.4) than surgical goals (M = 8.5). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the variety of goals women have for BR, the importance they attach to them, and differences and similarities between those seeking IBR and DBR. Future research should consider whether BR goals are met, how goal achievement influences satisfaction with outcome over time and how best to incorporate goals into pre-surgical treatment decision-making.
Authors: Jacqueline A Ter Stege; Daniela B Raphael; Hester S A Oldenburg; Martine A van Huizum; Frederieke H van Duijnhoven; Daniela E E Hahn; Regina The; Klemens Karssen; Eveline M L Corten; Irene S Krabbe-Timmerman; Menno Huikeshoven; Quinten P Q Ruhé; Nikola A N Kimmings; Wies Maarse; Kerry A Sherman; Arjen J Witkamp; Leonie A E Woerdeman; Eveline M A Bleiker Journal: Health Expect Date: 2021-10-28 Impact factor: 3.377