How patient acceptability affects access to breast reconstruction: a qualitative study

The Expectations and Acceptability of a Smart Nursing Home Model Among Chinese Older Adults and Family Members: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

This study aims to explore the expectations and acceptability of a smart nursing home model among Chinese older adults and their family members based on a scoping review that defines the concept of smart nursing homes.

METHODS

A qualitative case study was employed for this research. Semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted on WeChat. Participants were purposively sampled through snowball sampling in Hainan and Dalian, China. A total of 28 older adults aged 60-75 and six adult children were interviewed until data saturation was achieved, followed by a thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The expectations of smart nursing homes include: 1) quality of care supported by governments and societies; 2) smart technology applications; 3) the presence of a skilled healthcare professional team; 4) access to and scope of basic medical services; and 5) integration of medical services. The acceptability of smart nursing homes included factors such as stakeholders' perceived efficaciousness, usability, and collateral damages of using smart technologies, and the coping process of adoption was influenced by factors such as age, economic status, health status, education, and openness to smart technologies among older adults.

CONCLUSIONS

Chinese older adults and their family members have a positive perception of the smart nursing home model. The qualitative evidence regarding their expectations and acceptability of smart nursing homes contributes valuable insights for a wide range of stakeholders involved in the planning and implementation of smart nursing homes.

Breast cancer treatment and survival differences in women in remote and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, as demonstrated by linked data from New South Wales (NSW), Australia

INTRODUCTION

Reducing variations in cancer treatment and survival is a key aim of the NSW Cancer Plan. Variations in breast cancer treatment and survival in NSW by remoteness and socioeconomic status of residence were investigated to determine benchmarks. Reducing variations in cancer treatment and survival is a key aim of the NSW Cancer Plan. Variations in breast cancer treatment and survival in NSW by remoteness and socioeconomic status of residence were investigated to determine benchmarks.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study used linked data for invasive breast cancers, diagnosed in May 2002 to December 2015 from the NSW Cancer Registry, with corresponding inpatient, and medical and pharmaceutical insurance data. Associations between treatment modalities, area socioeconomic status and residential remoteness were explored using logistic regression. Predictors of breast cancer survival were investigated using Kaplan-Meier product-limit estimates and multivariate competing risk regression.

RESULTS

Results indicated a high 5-year disease-specific survival in NSW of 90%. Crude survival was equivalent by residential remoteness and marginally lower in lower socioeconomic areas. Competing risk regression showed equivalent outcomes by area socioeconomic status, except for the least disadvantaged quintile, which showed a higher survival. Higher sub-hazard ratios for death occurred for women with breast cancer aged 70 + years, and more advanced stage. Adjusted analyses indicated more advanced stage in lower socioeconomic areas, with less breast reconstruction and radiotherapy, and marginally less hormone therapy for women from these areas. Conversely, among these women who had breast conserving surgery, there was higher use of chemotherapy. Remoteness of residence was associated in adjusted analyses with less radiotherapy and less immediate breast reconstruction. In these short term data, remoteness of residence was not associated with lower survival.

CONCLUSION

This study provides benchmarks for monitoring future variations in treatment and survival.

Patient-Reported Outcomes of Three Different Types of Breast Reconstruction with Correlation to the Clinical Data 5 Years Postoperatively

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to compare long-term clinical and patient-reported outcomes in terms of satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) following postmastectomy breast reconstruction using BREAST-Q in patients undergoing implant-based reconstruction, abdominal-based autologous reconstruction, and combined reconstruction (with implant and LD flap or implant and TDAP flap).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted. Patients had undergone delayed postmastectomy breast reconstruction and completed the BREAST-Q reconstruction module. The results were related to the clinical data obtained from the clinic's patient record system. A 5-year examination was included. Mean scores and standard deviations were calculated. Kruskal-Wallis test, Chi-square goodness of fit test and Chi-square test were used for the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, 110 patients (n = 24 implant, n  = 38 autologous, n = 48 combination) were included. Patients with autologous reconstruction reported greater postoperative satisfaction with breasts (p < 0.001), satisfaction with outcome (p < 0.001), psychosocial well-being (p = 0.001), and sexual well-being (p = 0.051).

CONCLUSION

This study represents a comprehensive long-term examination of postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Autologous reconstruction patients had higher postoperative satisfaction and HRQoL than patients receiving other types of reconstruction despite having more intense oncological therapy and the highest mean number of follow-up surgical procedures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .