Conventional standard-sized bra with prosthesis or patient’s bra with customized hand-knitted external prosthesis after mastectomy: Mixed-methods evaluation of patients’ preferences

Breast disease Pub Date : 2023-12-08 DOI:10.3233/bd-230040

R. P. Ng, John C. Allen, Yen-Yen Chia, Geok Hoon Lim

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy without reconstruction, an external breast prosthesis could aid patients’ recovery, improve body image and confidence by helping to regain a symmetrical chest appearance when dressed. However, external breast prosthesis preferences among Asian breast cancer patients were not widely studied. We aimed to compare patients’ experience with the conventional commercially manufactured standard-sized (small, medium, large, extra-large) bra and prosthesis versus customized hand-knitted external breast prosthesis with patient’s bra after unilateral mastectomy at a tertiary hospital. This is the first such study in Asian women, to our knowledge. METHODS: In this prospective study, participants used the conventional bra-prosthesis followed by the customized one consecutively, each for at least 3 months before they were administered an identical questionnaire at 3 and 6 months respectively. The questionnaire assessed the patients’ experience with the prosthesis on the aspects of comfort, body image and satisfaction etc. Patients were also invited for in-depth interviews. RESULTS: Of 155 eligible patients, 148 patients participated with a response rate of 95.5%. 99 (67%) participants preferred the customized prosthesis, while 38 (25.7%) did not. 11 (7.4%) participants were undecided. Seventeen participants underwent in-depth interviews until data saturation on major qualitative themes was achieved. More patients experienced excessive sweating (p < 0.0001), greater discomfort (p = 0.0195) and higher rates of prosthesis dislodgement (p = 0.0269) with the conventional bra-prosthesis. CONCLUSION: Customized external breast prostheses could be an alternative to the conventional ones for breast cancer patients with mastectomy, with additional benefits of less sweating, more comfort and less dislodgement perceived.

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乳房切除术后使用带假体的传统标准尺寸胸罩还是带定制手工编织外部假体的患者胸罩：对患者偏好的混合方法评估

简介:在接受乳房切除术而不进行乳房重建的乳腺癌患者中，外部乳房假体可以帮助患者恢复，通过帮助患者恢复穿着时对称的胸部外观来改善身体形象和信心。然而，亚洲乳腺癌患者对外部乳房假体的偏好并没有广泛的研究。我们的目的是比较某三级医院单侧乳房切除术后，患者使用传统商业生产的标准尺寸(小、中、大、特大)胸罩和假体与定制的手工编织外乳房假体与患者胸罩的体验。据我们所知，这是第一次在亚洲女性中进行这样的研究。方法:在这项前瞻性研究中，参与者连续使用常规假体和定制假体，每个假体至少使用3个月，然后分别在第3个月和第6个月进行相同的问卷调查。问卷从舒适性、身体形象、满意度等方面评价患者使用义肢的体验。患者也被邀请进行深度访谈。结果:155例符合条件的患者中，148例患者参与，有效率为95.5%。99人(67%)喜欢定制义肢，38人(25.7%)不喜欢定制义肢。11名(7.4%)参与者尚未决定。17名参与者接受了深入访谈，直到在主要定性主题上达到数据饱和。使用传统的文胸假体时，更多的患者出现出汗过多(p < 0.0001)，更大的不适(p = 0.0195)和更高的假体脱位率(p = 0.0269)。结论:定制乳房外假体可替代传统乳房外假体用于乳腺癌切除术患者，具有出汗少、舒适、移位少等优点。

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来源期刊

Breast disease Medicine-Oncology

CiteScore

1.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

期刊介绍： The recent expansion of work in the field of breast cancer inevitably will hasten discoveries that will have impact on patient outcome. The breadth of this research that spans basic science, clinical medicine, epidemiology, and public policy poses difficulties for investigators. Not only is it necessary to be facile in comprehending ideas from many disciplines, but also important to understand the public implications of these discoveries. Breast Disease publishes review issues devoted to an in-depth analysis of the scientific and public implications of recent research on a specific problem in breast cancer. Thus, the reviews will not only discuss recent discoveries but will also reflect on their impact in breast cancer research or clinical management.