Intention of breast reconstruction in Chinese women breast cancer patients: a multicenter study / 中华整形外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the intention of breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients and explore the potentially-related impact factors.@*Methods@#Breast reconstruction related questionnaires were distributed among 525 women breast cancer patients in multiple centers. Proportion constitution, univariate analysis and Logistic regression analysis were applied to the returned data.@*Results@#84 valid questionnaires were collected. There were 35.1%(170/484) patients who had the intention of breast reconstruction, and the patients with no intention of reconstruction accounted for 40.7%(197/484), while 24.2%(117/484) of the patients showed an unclear attitude to breast reconstruction. The average cognitive and attitude scores of reconstructive patients were significantly higher than those without reconstructive wishes (t=8.194, P<0.05; t=13.795, P<0.05). The higher rate of breast reconstruction willingness in breast cancer patients was associated with a lower age (χ2=13.466, P<0.05) and a better educational background (χ2=14.955, P<0.05). The rate in in-service personnel was higher than that in unemployed personnel (χ2=12.744, P<0.05). The rate of breast reconstruction willingness in the patients with various family income and medical insurance categories was significantly different (χ2=10.551, P<0.05; χ2=4.255, P<0.05). The marital status and the place of residence had no relation to the rate of reconstruction willingness (P>0.05). A further Logistic regression analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between the intention of breast reconstruction and the following factors the age of patients, family income, medical expense category, the attitude of breast reconstruction (P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#Breast cancer patients have severe lack of knowledge of breast reconstruction. However, the young patients, with good economic condition and a positive attitude to reconstruction had a strong desire for breast reconstruction. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the communication with breast cancer patients in clinical environment and improve the cognitive level of patients and their families to increase the rate of breast reconstruction.