Breast restoration decision making followed 2 predominant patterns and did not involve active information seeking behaviour
Question What are women's decision making patterns about breast restoration after breast cancer treated by mastectomy?
Design
{Grounded theory}*.
Setting
The metropolitan area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Patients
95 women (80% white) who had breast cancer, modified radical mastectomy, and no clinical indications of recurrence were recruited by 3 general surgeons. 64 women (mean age 63 y) wore external breast prostheses and 31 women (mean age 49.5 y) had breast reconstructions.
Methods
A semistructured interview was conducted at the participant's home 2–7 years after the diagnosis of breast cancer. Interviews usually lasted about 50 minutes. Participants were asked about information seeking behaviour, and knowledge of and deliberation on breast restoration alternatives. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analysed by both the researcher and a clinical psychologist using the NUD•IST software programme. The breast restoration decision making process was categorised into …
