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.

Level of evidence: 3: