Male Breast Cancer Patients' Perspectives on Their Health Care Situation: A Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer is rare. No information was available on how male breast cancer patients (MBCPs) experience the health care they receive in Germany in a setting that is tailored to women. The aim of this study was to explore the health care situation of MBCPs from their perspectives. METHODS: The study follows a mixed-methods design, combining quantitative data from a standardized written questionnaire with qualitative data from personal interviews. Descriptive statistics (quantitative data) and qualitative content analysis (qualitative data) were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Questionnaires completed by 100 and personal interviews of 27 MBCPs were analyzed. Several men reported mainly positive experiences while others experienced shortcomings. These included delays in diagnosis, health care provider uncertainty about treatment (tamoxifen, radiation therapy), experiences of stigmatization, and issues of continuity of care including unclear responsibilities for aftercare and access challenges to breast-cancer-specific care in gynecology settings. CONCLUSIONS: The awareness of male breast cancer needs to be increased among the public, health care providers and researchers in order to avoid delays in diagnosis and reduce stigmatization and uncertainty about treatment. Health care structures ensuring access to gynecology care and clear responsibilities for aftercare need to be established.

[Breast Cancer in Men - Health Care Professionals' Perspectives on the Multidisciplinary Care of a Rare Disease]. / Brustkrebs beim Mann ­ die Sicht der beteiligten Berufsgruppen auf die multiprofessionelle Versorgung einer seltenen Erkrankung.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Male breast cancer is a rare disease, for which, however, available care is from highly specialized care structures intended for female patients. So far, it is unknown whether the focus of care structures for women leads to deficits in the care for men. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to identify possible deficits in male breast cancer care from the perspective of the health care professions involved. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with n=23 participants and 2 focus group discussions with n=7 and n=9 participants were conducted. The transcripts of the interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed by qualitative content analysis using MAXQDA. RESULTS: Some participants felt insecure and uniformed in terms of treatment recommendations for men with breast cancer. Often, responsibilities were vague or unknown. Many participants felt a lack of interdisciplinary cooperation, especially in follow-up care. Some respondents complained of a lack of rehabilitation centers for men with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: Male breast cancer patients benefit from the advanced structures for breast cancer care. However, some health care problems were identified. Our results together with representative data can help develop practical recommendations for improving the quality of care of male breast cancer patients.