Variations in Depression and Anxiety among Jordanian Women Undergoing Mastectomy and Reconstruction Surgery: Impact of Familial Support.

INTRODUCTION: Depression and anxiety are common among breast cancer patients, due to the ongoing mental distress during illness. This study examines the impact of family support on depression and anxiety changes in Jordanian women undergoing mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the effect between family support and depression/anxiety levels in women post-mastectomy in Jordan. Participants included breast cancer patients who had undergone mastectomy surgery, meeting specified inclusion criteria. We collected data on socio-demographic variables via a questionnaire between October 2023 and January 2024. Depression and anxiety levels were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS-21), while social support was evaluated using the Social Support Survey. RESULTS: A significantly negative correlation was observed between the DASS-21 score and social support, indicating that higher levels of social support were associated with lower levels of depression, anxiety, and stress (p-value: 0.001). Additionally, analyzing the correlation between physical therapy, social support (median scores: 76 vs. 90, p = 0.021), and DASS-21 (median scores: 25 vs. 11, p < 0.001) revealed significant findings. Specifically, individuals who had received physical therapy exhibited significantly lower DASS-21 scores and higher social support scores. CONCLUSION: Our study underscores the significant role of family support in alleviating depression and anxiety levels among women with breast cancer. Strong family support emerges as a key factor in improving the emotional well-being of these individuals.

A qualitative study on the experiences of women undergoing surgery for developmental breast asymmetry.

BACKGROUND: Developmental breast asymmetry (DBA) is a largely underreported condition where the natural growth of one breast is smaller than the other. While some degree of asymmetry or difference in size and shape is present in most women, DBA can result in more profound differences that can impact a woman's psychosocial well-being. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to better understand the experiences of women living with DBA, their experiences seeking treatment, and their reconstructive surgical journey and outcomes. DESIGN: This was a qualitative study involving in-depth, one-on-one semi-structured interviews with women diagnosed with DBA. METHODS: Participants were women seeking treatment for DBA through the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit at Flinders Medical Centre, a tertiary healthcare centre in Adelaide, South Australia. Interviews were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS: Fourteen interviews were conducted with 14 women; 13 women had completed their reconstruction and 1 was undergoing reconstruction at the time of their interview. Interviews highlighted the significant psychosocial impact of DBA, the different experiences in seeking help for DBA, the information received or lack thereof, the need for medical and social support throughout the surgical process, and the varied satisfaction with surgical outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the subjective experiences of women who have grown up with DBA, improving our understanding of the significant psychosocial impact of DBA. Not all participants experienced post-operative improvements in psychosocial well-being due to surgical complications or unmet expectations. This study also demonstrated the need to raise awareness about DBA and the importance of additional medical and social support for women throughout their surgical journey.

Predicting Postoperative Satisfaction with Breasts: How Important is the Preoperative BREAST-Q Score?

BACKGROUND: The role that preoperative Satisfaction with Breast plays in a patient's postoperative course after postmastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) is not understood. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of the preoperative score on postoperative outcome as an independent variable. METHODS: We examined patients who underwent PMBR between 2017 and 2021 and who completed the BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Breasts at 1 year postoperatively. Two multiple linear regression models (Model 1 with the preoperative Satisfaction with Breasts score and Model 2 without the preoperative score), likelihood ratio tests, simple t-statistics, and sample patient dataset to predict the 1 year score were performed. Multiple imputation was used to account for missing preoperative scores. RESULTS: Overall, 2324 patients were included. Model 1 showed that the preoperative score is significantly associated with the postoperative score (ß = 0.09, 95% confidence interval 0.04-0.14; p < 0.001). Comparing Model 1 and Model 2 demonstrated that including preoperative Satisfaction with Breasts in a regression significantly improves model fit (test statistic = 10.04; p = 0.0021). Using the absolute value of the t-statistics as a measure of variable importance in linear regression, the importance of the preoperative score was quantified as 3.39-more important than neoadjuvant radiation, mastectomy weight, body mass index, bilateral prophylactic mastectomy, and race, but less than adjuvant radiation, reconstruction type, and psychiatric diagnoses. CONCLUSION: Preoperative Satisfaction with Breasts scores are an important independent predictor of postoperative satisfaction after PMBR. Just as vital sign and work-up are carefully documented before surgery, preoperative scores should be collected to pre-emptively gauge patients' satisfaction and optimize postoperative outcomes.

Preoperative three-dimensional simulation of the breast appearance after wide local excision or level one oncoplastic techniques for breast-conserving treatment does not set unrealistic expectations for aesthetic outcome: One-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Simulation of aesthetic outcomes of wide local excision and level one oncoplastic breast conserving treatment (BCT) using 3-dimensional surface imaging (3D-SI) prepares women for their aesthetic outcome. It remains unknown whether women's memory of this information at the one-year follow-up matches their perception of reality or affects the quality of life. METHODS: With ethical approval, a prospective 3-arm RCT was conducted and it included 3D-simulation, viewing post-operative 2D photographs of other women and standard care. At one-year post-surgery, the participants completed a visual analogue scale (VAS) for the question "How well do you think the information about how your breasts are likely to look after surgery reflects how they actually look today?" and the BCT BREAST-Q module. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to examine between-group differences at a 5% significance level. RESULTS: From 2017 to 2019, 117 women completed the primary endpoint of being informed about the aesthetic outcome via verbal description, photographs or simulation. Seventy-eight (74%) of the 106 women who remained eligible attended the one-year follow-up. The standardised preoperative 3D-SI simulation did not affect the patient's perception of the aesthetic outcome compared to standard care or viewing 2D photographs as measured using the VAS (p = 0.40) or BREAST-Q scores for satisfaction with information (p = 0.76), satisfaction with breasts (p = 0.70), and psychosocial wellbeing domains (p = 0.81). DISCUSSION: Viewing their own 3D-SI standardised simulation did not significantly affect how the participants perceived their aesthetic outcome. In addition, it did not alter the patient-reported satisfaction. These results demonstrated that simulation for wide local excision or level one oncoplastic surgery does not set unrealistic expectations of the aesthetic outcome when used in a preoperative setting. SYNOPSIS: The use of a non-bespoke three-dimensional simulation of the aesthetic outcome for breast conserving treatment in the preoperative setting does not over-inflate expectations compared to standard care.

Impact of Mastectomy Flap Necrosis on Patient-Reported Quality-of-Life Measures After Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy: A Preliminary Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Mastectomy skin flap necrosis (SFN) is common following nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM), but studies on its quality-of-life (QOL) impact are limited. We examined patient-reported QOL and satisfaction after NSM with/without SFN utilizing the BREAST-Q patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) survey. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing NSM between April 2018 and July 2021 at our institution were examined; the BREAST-Q PROM was administered preoperatively, and at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. SFN extent/severity was documented at 2-3 weeks postoperatively; QOL and satisfaction domains were compared between patients with/without SFN. RESULTS: A total of 573 NSMs in 333 patients were included, and 135 breasts in 82 patients developed SFN (24% superficial, 56% partial thickness, 16% full thickness). Patients with SFN reported significantly lower scores in the satisfaction with breasts (p = 0.032) and psychosocial QOL domains (p = 0.009) at 6 months versus those without SFN, with scores returning to baseline at 1 year in both domains. In the "physical well-being-of-the-chest" domain, there was an overall decline in scores among all patients; however, there were no significant differences at any time point between patients with or without SFN. Sexual well-being scores declined for patients with SFN compared with those without at 6 months and also at 1 year, but this did not reach significance (p = 0.13, p = 0.2, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing NSM who developed SFN reported significantly lower satisfaction and psychosocial well-being scores at 6 months, which returned to baseline by 1 year. Physical well-being of the chest significantly declines after NSM regardless of SFN. Future studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up are needed to determine SFN's impact on long-term QOL.

Three and twelve-month analysis of the PROM-Q study: comparison of patient-reported outcome measures using the BREAST-Q questionnaire in pre- vs. sub-pectoral implant-based immediate breast reconstruction.

PURPOSE: Implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) is being increasingly performed with implant placed above the pectoral muscle (pre-pectoral), instead of below the pectoral muscle (sub-pectoral). Currently, there is a lack of comparative data on clinical and patient-perceived outcomes between pre- vs. sub-pectoral IBR. We investigated whether this difference in surgical approach influenced clinical or patient-perceived outcomes. METHODS: This prospective non-randomised longitudinal cohort study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04842240) recruited patients undergoing immediate IBR at the Leeds Breast Unit (Sep 2019-Sep 2021). Data collection included patient characteristics and post-operative complications. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures were collected using the BREAST-Q questionnaire at baseline, 2 weeks, 3- and 12-months post-surgery. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients underwent IBR (46 patients pre-pectoral; 59% vs. 32 patients sub-pectoral; 41%). Similar complication rates were observed (15.2% pre-pectoral vs. 9.4% sub-pectoral; p = 0.44). Overall implant loss rate was 3.8% (6.5% pre-pectoral vs. 0% sub-pectoral; p = 0.13). Respective median Breast-Q scores for pre- and sub-pectoral IBR at 3 months were: breast satisfaction (58 vs. 48; p = 0.01), psychosocial well-being (60 vs. 57; p = 0.9), physical well-being (68 vs. 76; p = 0.53), and Animation Q scores (73 vs. 76; p = 0.45). Respective Breast-Q scores at 12 months were: breast satisfaction (58 vs. 53; p = 0.3), psychosocial well-being (59 vs. 60; p = 0.9), physical well-being (68 vs. 78; p = 0.18), and Animation Q scores (69 vs. 73; p = 0.4). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates equivalent clinical and patient-perceived outcomes between pre- and sub-pectoral IBR. The study findings can be utilised to aid informed decision making regarding either surgical option.

To Reconstruct or Not to Reconstruct: Piloting a Vietnamese and Arabic Breast Reconstruction Decision Aid in Australia.

Currently, there are no resources to support culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) women with breast cancer to make decisions about undergoing breast reconstruction (BR). This study evaluated the usability and acceptability of decision aids (DAs) for Vietnamese- and Arabic-speaking women. This two-phase qualitative recruited Vietnamese- (Phase 1) and Arabic-speaking (Phase 2) adult (age ≥ 18 years) women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and could read Vietnamese/Arabic. Women participated in either think-aloud telephone interviews (Phase 1) or semi-structured telephone interviews (Phase 2) and provided feedback on the DA. Interviews were audio-recorded, translated, and transcribed from Vietnamese/Arabic to English, and inductive thematic analysis was undertaken. Additionally, Arabic-speaking women completed the Preparation for Decision Making (PrepDM) scale in Round 2. Twenty-five women were recruited in two phases (Phase 1: Vietnamese-speaking women, n = 14; Phase 2: Arabic-speaking, n = 11). Three themes were developed in Phase 1: (1) DA content and reception; (2) linguistic attributes and cultural appropriateness; and (3) factors that improve the DAs' impact. Three themes were developed in Phase 2: (1) varying perceptions of DA content; (2) linguistic and cultural suitability of information; and (3) impact of DA on decision making. Women from both phases identified areas for improvement: minimising the use of medical terminology, considering the cultural taboos associated with the word 'breast', and addressing remaining information gaps. Both language DAs were generally perceived as acceptable and useful in providing information about BR options and prompting women's reflections about the suitability of BR as part of their treatment. The mean PrepDM score for Arabic-speaking women in Round 2 was 4.8/5 (SD = 0.3). Further work is needed to ensure that culturally adapted DAs take into account the myriad of information needs and health literacy levels. The key role of healthcare professionals in shared decision making among CALD populations should also be considered.

The Satisfaction and Quality of Life of Patients After Breast Reconstruction: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Study Comparing Immediate, Delayed, and Nonreconstructive Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Breast reconstruction following mastectomy can be performed through various surgical techniques that prioritize the patient's safety and quality of life. Plastic surgeons are trained to choose the most appropriate surgical approach based on the individual patient's needs and medical history. The safety of the patient is always the primary concern, followed by considerations such as aesthetic outcomes and long-term health implications. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess and document patients' satisfaction and quality of life after breast reconstruction across Saudi Arabia. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional multicenter study among female patients who underwent mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction between 2015 and 2022. Two hundred eighty patients participated in this study through a call-based Arabic version of the BREAST-Q questionnaire to analyze the quality of their lives and satisfaction. RESULTS: Our results showed that patients who underwent delayed reconstruction had lower satisfaction than those who underwent immediate reconstruction. The average BREAST-Q score was lower in patients who used tissue expanders than those with implant-based reconstruction, autologous reconstruction, or combined approaches. Patients who underwent simple mastectomy had lower satisfaction (M = 66.1) than those who had a skin-sparing mastectomy (M = 71.1) and/or nipple-sparing mastectomy (M = 72.6). CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective multicenter study observed a significant association between the time of the reconstructive surgery and patient's satisfaction; patients who underwent immediate reconstruction had higher satisfaction rate. Lower satisfaction rate was associated with tissue expander breast reconstruction. There is a significant association between satisfaction rate and smoking history.

Health-related quality of life by type of breast surgery in women with primary breast cancer: prospective longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life and patient-related outcome measures for patients with cancer have gained increased interest over the last decade. However, few prospective studies with longitudinal data evaluated health-related quality of life in patients with breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate how health-related quality of life changed from the time of diagnosis to 1 year after breast cancer surgery for the main surgical techniques. METHODS: This prospective longitudinal single-centre study included patients with primary breast cancer diagnosed in 2019-2020 who underwent surgery. Patients completed a health-related quality of life questionnaire (Breast-Q) at baseline. One year after surgery, they completed the Breast-Q a second time, the EORTC (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) quality of life questionnaire-C30 and the quality of life questionnaire-BR23. Analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to evaluate the differences in health-related quality of life between surgical groups. Analysis of covariance with robust standard errors was used to adjust for confounders. RESULTS: In total, 340 patients were included in the study; 160 patients received oncoplastic partial mastectomy, 112 received partial mastectomy, 42 received mastectomy and 26 had mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Patients that had partial mastectomy or oncoplastic partial mastectomy were more satisfied with their breasts (P < 0.001), had a better body image (P = 0.006) and higher sexual functioning scores (P = 0.027) than patients who had a mastectomy with/without reconstruction. The oncoplastic and mastectomy with reconstruction groups had more breast symptoms than other groups (P < 0.001), and the mastectomy group had the least symptoms from the chest area. CONCLUSION: Partial mastectomy and oncoplastic partial mastectomy have the best outcomes in terms of breast satisfaction, body image and sexual functioning. This highlights the importance of preserving the breast when feasible and underscores that breast reconstruction is not equal to breast conservation. Registration number: NCT04227613 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Quality of life in breast reconstruction: a comparison of lightweight and conventional breast implants.

BACKGROUND: Due to the declining mortality rates of breast carcinoma and the rising incidence of risk-reducing mastectomies, enhancing the quality of life after breast reconstructions has become an increasingly important goal. The advantages of lightweight breast implants (B-Lite®) may significantly contribute to achieving this objective. This study aims to investigate whether lightweight implants are suitable for patients undergoing breast reconstruction and could improve the quality of life in comparison to conventional implants. METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively analyzed 48 patients (38 implants in each group) who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction with either B-Lite® or conventional breast implants between 2019 and 2022 at the University Center for Plastic Surgery in Regensburg. As part of the postoperative follow-up, a clinical examination and a survey using the Breast-Q® questionnaire were conducted to evaluate the postoperative quality of life. RESULTS: The implants used were similar in weight and shape. On average, the B-Lite® implants had a higher implant volume and patients in this group had a slightly higher BMI. Patients who received B-Lite® implants showed a significantly better result regarding the sensation of sensitivity in the surgical area and the scar formation also appeared to be more favorable. However, patients with B-Lite® implants perceived their implants as more uncomfortable than those with conventional breast implants. In other terms concerning quality of life, both groups appeared similar. CONCLUSION: In summary, there are confounding factors that could influence the outcome of some aspects in this study, which could not be avoided due to the retrospective study design and the temporary suspension of B-Lite implants. Nevertheless, as the first of its kind, this study demonstrated that B-Lite implants could also be suitable for usage in breast reconstructions, thus providing an important foundation for further prospective studies to build upon.

Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life after breast-conserving surgery, mastectomy, and breast reconstruction assessed using the BREAST-Q questionnaire.

PURPOSE: Breast-conserving surgery is the preferred treatment for breast cancer; however, its associated risk of local recurrence is higher than that of mastectomy. We performed a comparative analysis of four patient-reported outcomes, psychosocial well-being, sexual well-being, breast satisfaction, and physical well-being of the chest, and quality of life after three surgical approaches, breast-conserving therapy (BCT), mastectomy alone, and mastectomy with breast reconstruction, for breast cancer treatment. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using the BREAST-Q questionnaire and including patients who had undergone breast surgery at least 1 year prior to survey completion was performed. The analysis included 1035 patients (mean age, 55.0 ± 9.1 years) who underwent breast reconstruction, 116 patients (mean age, 63.6 ± 12.2 years) who underwent mastectomy, and 64 patients (mean age, 60.8 ± 12.2 years) who underwent BCT. RESULTS: Patients who underwent reconstruction had significantly higher psychosocial well-being scores (62.8 ± 18.4) than those who underwent BCT (57.0 ± 23.6) and mastectomy (50.8 ± 16.8) (p < 0.01). However, significant differences in self-acceptance scores among all patients were not observed. Regarding sexual well-being and breast satisfaction, patients who underwent mastectomy had significantly lower scores (29.9 ± 18.7 and 41.8 ± 17.7, respectively) than those who underwent BCT (45.8 ± 26.6 and 58.3 ± 17.5, respectively) and reconstruction (46.4 ± 20.3 and 58.8 ± 15.4, respectively) (p < 0.01). Physical well-being of the chest scores were not significantly different among all patients (p = 0.14). Symptoms after mastectomy included chest muscle pain and arm movement impairment. Breast pain was a notable symptom after BCT. CONCLUSION: The study findings provide valuable insights regarding patient-reported outcomes, highlight the potential benefits of breast reconstruction, and emphasize the importance of patients' preferences.

High Quality of Care Delivery Improves Patient Satisfaction and Quality of Life Outcomes After Breast Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation is one of the most common aesthetic procedures worldwide. Most studies have focused on evaluating the outcome with validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and factors that may influence them. However, the influence of care delivery, which can be measured with patient-reported experience measures (PREMs), is rarely considered in studies of breast augmentation patients. OBJECTIVES: In this study we aimed to evaluate the associations between PREMs and PROMs in patients who underwent breast augmentation. METHODS: A multicenter cohort study was conducted in breast augmentation patients. Patients completed PREMs, including items such as communication between physician and patient, expectation management, welcome, and hygiene, and the BREAST-Q PROM (satisfaction with breasts and psychosocial, physical, and sexual well-being) preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively. Regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between PREMs and PROMs. RESULTS: Overall, 329 patients were included between 2018 and 2022. Univariate regression analysis showed a positive association between PREM and PROM scales. The feeling of being heard (B = -38.39 and B = -18.90), the opportunity to ask questions (B = -9.21), and trust in their physician (B = -39.08) had the highest association with change in the 4 BREAST-Q scales. The multivariable regression analysis showed that the variance in PROMs related to changes in PREMs (19%) was little influenced by patient characteristics (1%). CONCLUSIONS: Patient outcomes are more positive after breast augmentation when patients feel they are being heard, have the opportunity to ask questions, and have trust in their physician. Future studies should be targeted at optimizing patient-reported experience to investigate whether this improves patient-reported outcomes.

Preoperative depression is an independent risk factor for short-term morbidities in autologous and implant-based breast reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Depression is notably common among patients who have undergone mastectomy. Several post-mastectomy patients opt for elective breast reconstruction. However, evidence on the influence of preoperative depression on breast reconstruction outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative depression on the short-term outcomes of autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) and implant-based breast reconstruction (IBR) using a comprehensive national registry. METHODS: Patients who underwent ABR or IBR were identified from the national inpatient sample from Q4 2015-2020. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to compare in-hospital outcomes between the patients with and without depression, adjusted for demographics, primary payer status, hospital characteristics, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Among the 12,984 patients who underwent ABR, 1578 (12 %) had depression whereas 1980 (11 %) out of 17,963 patients who underwent IBR had depression. In ABR and IBR, preoperative depression was associated with higher superficial wound complications (ABR, aOR = 1.386, 95 % CI = 1.035-1.856, p = 0.03; IBR, aOR = 1.281, 95 % CI = 1.001-1.638, p = 0.04), hemorrhage/hematoma (ABR, aOR = 1.164, 95 % CI = 1.010-1.355, p = 0.04; IBR, aOR = 1.614, 95 % CI = 1.279-2.037, p < 0.01), and longer hospital length of stay (p < 0.01). In ABR, patients with depression had higher incidences of infection (aOR = 1.906, 95 % CI = 1.246-2.917, p < 0.01) and sepsis (aOR = 15.609, 95 % CI = 1.411-172.65, p = 0.03). In IBR, patients with depression had higher risks of capsular contracture (aOR = 1.477, 95 % CI = 1.105-1.976, p = 0.01) and seroma (aOR = 1.489, 95 % CI = 1.005-2.208, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: Preoperative depression is independently associated with major morbidities after ABR and IBR. Preoperative screening for depression can be beneficial. Findings from this study can facilitate preoperative risk stratification and post-operative care for patients with depression.

Quality of life and satisfaction after breast augmentation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of Breast-Q patient-reported outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Breast augmentation ranks among the most popular plastic surgery procedures. Yet, reports on post-operative patient-reported quality of life (QoL) and satisfaction remain conflicting. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Three databases were searched for eligible studies that reported pre-and/or post-operative Breast-Q™ augmentation scores for patient QoL (psychosocial, sexual, and physical well-being) and/or satisfaction. RESULTS: A total of 39 studies (53 patient cohorts and 18,322 patients) were included in the quantitative synthesis. The pairwise meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in patient-reported psychosocial (MD: +38.10) and sexual well-being (MD: +40.20) as well as satisfaction with breast (MD: +47.88) (all p < 0.00001). Physical well-being improved slightly after breast augmentation (MD: +6.97; p = 0.42). The single-arm meta-analysis yielded comparable results, with Breast-Q™ scores in psychosocial and sexual well-being as well as satisfaction with breast increasing from 37.2, 31.1, and 26.3 to 75.0, 70.6, and 72.7, respectively (all p < 0.00001). Physical well-being improved by 8.1 (75.8 pre-operatively to 83.9 post-operatively; p = 0.17). Subgroup analyses highlighted higher QoL and satisfaction following breast augmentation for purely esthetic purposes and alloplastic mammaplasty. Although patient-reported physical and sexual well-being increased in the long term, psychosocial well-being was the highest in the short term. CONCLUSION: Patient satisfaction with breast, psychosocial, and sexual well-being increased significantly after breast augmentation. In contrast, patient-reported physical well-being yielded ambivalent results, varying by mammaplasty technique and post-operative follow-up time. Plastic surgeons should be sensitized about our findings to refine eligibility criteria and gain a deeper understanding of the patients' perceived surgical experience. PROSPERO TRIAL REGISTRATION NO: CRD42023409605.

Quality of Life after Mastectomy with or without Breast Reconstruction and Breast-Conserving Surgery in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study at a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana.

(1) Background: Breast cancer is the leading malignancy worldwide, and in Ghana, it has a poor overall survival rate. However, approximately 50% of cases are cases of early-stage disease, and with advances in breast cancer treatment and improvements in survival, quality of life (QOL) is becoming as important as the treatment of the disease. (2) Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of survivors who had breast-conserving surgery (BCS), mastectomy only (M) and mastectomy with breast reconstruction (BRS) from 2016 to 2020 at a tertiary hospital in Ghana, comparatively assessing their QOL using EORTC QLQ C-30 and EORTC QLQ BR-23. (3) Results: The study participants had an overall global health status (GHS) median score of 83.3 [IQR: 66.7-91.7] with no significant differences between the surgery types. The BRS group had statistically significant lower median scores for the functional scale (82.8 and 51.0) and the highest scores for the symptomatic scale (15.7 and 16.5). Body image was significantly lowest for the BRS group (83.3) [68.8-91.7] and highest (100) [91.7-100] for the BCS group (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: There is a need to develop support systems tailored at improving the QOL of breast cancer survivors taking into consideration the type of surgery performed.

Patient factors associated with cancer worry post-breast reconstruction: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: The BREAST-Q Breast Cancer module is a patient-reported outcome measure for women with breast cancer diagnosis. Our research team developed and validated a novel BREAST-Q scale for this module that measures quality of life outcomes specific to cancer worry. The aim of this study was to investigate patient related breast reconstruction factors that are associated with worse scores on the new BREAST-Q Cancer Worry Scale. METHODS: Women with a history of breast cancer treated with mastectomy and reconstruction, aged ≥18 years, and English-speaking were recruited through the Love Research Army between October and November 2019. Participants completed demographic and clinical questions alongside the BREAST-Q Cancer Worry Scale. Univariable and multivariable regression analyses were used to identify participant characteristics associated with cancer worry scores. RESULTS: Among the 554 potential respondents, 538 (97.1%) completed the Cancer Worry Scale. The average patient age was 58.4 (+9.8) years. Cancer Worry scores were normally distributed with a mean of 46.4 (+17.2). Cancer Worry scores were significantly associated (p < 0.01) with younger age, history of radiation therapy, complications associated with breast surgery since diagnosis, use of textured breast implants, and shorter duration since surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory analysis provides evidence of patient characteristics that may be associated with cancer worry following postmastectomy breast reconstruction.

Assessing the Content and Effect of Web-Based Decision Aids for Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Web-based decision aids have been shown to have a positive effect when used to improve the quality of decision-making for women facing postmastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR). However, the existing findings regarding these interventions are still incongruent, and the overall effect is unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the content of web-based decision aids and its impact on decision-related outcomes (ie, decision conflict, decision regret, informed choice, and knowledge), psychological-related outcomes (ie, satisfaction and anxiety), and surgical decision-making in women facing PMBR. METHODS: This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A total of 6 databases, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Web of Science Core Collection, were searched starting at the time of establishment of the databases to May 2023, and an updated search was conducted on April 1, 2024. MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms and text words were used. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for randomized controlled trials was used to assess the risk of bias. The certainty of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. RESULTS: In total, 7 studies included 579 women and were published between 2008 and 2023, and the sample size in each study ranged from 26 to 222. The results showed that web-based decision aids used audio and video to present the pros and cons of PMBR versus no PMBR, implants versus flaps, and immediate versus delayed PMBR and the appearance and feel of the PMBR results and the expected recovery time with photographs of actual patients. Web-based decision aids help improve PMBR knowledge, decisional conflict (mean difference [MD]=-5.43, 95% CI -8.87 to -1.99; P=.002), and satisfaction (standardized MD=0.48, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.95; P=.05) but have no effect on informed choice (MD=-2.80, 95% CI -8.54 to 2.94; P=.34), decision regret (MD=-1.55, 95% CI -6.00 to 2.90 P=.49), or anxiety (standardized MD=0.04, 95% CI -0.50 to 0.58; P=.88). The overall Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation quality of the evidence was low. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that the web-based decision aids provide a modern, low-cost, and high dissemination rate effective method to promote the improved quality of decision-making in women undergoing PMBR. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023450496; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=450496.