title: Satisfaction following immediate breast reconstruction: Experiences in the early post-operative stage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This qualitative study aimed to achieve an understanding of women's experiences of immediate breast reconstruction following mastectomy, to better understand the factors influencing patient satisfaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine women were recruited from a breast unit in the North West of England. Participants were 3-9 months post-reconstruction, had received either an implant-based or Latissimus Dorsi-based immediate reconstruction and were not receiving any adjuvant therapies. An inductive qualitative and phenomenological approach was adopted to data collection and analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women took part in semi-structured interviews. All interviews were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four themes were generated: Seeking and receiving information; coping with the outcome of reconstruction; the need for on-going support and a new life after surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights difficulties surrounding receiving information and decision-making, how women make sense of recovery, how they solicit and receive support, and the process by which they begin to make sense of their futures. More focus on these areas in service provision may aid positive psychological outcomes in the recovery process following immediate breast reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Craig D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: School of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: Royal Bolton Hospital, Bolton, UK.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rehan
authors.affiliation: Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Guy's Hospital Great Maze Pond, London, UK.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011184:Postoperative Period; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: breast surgery; cancer; decision; gender; information; outcomes