title: Exploring information provision in reconstructive breast surgery: A qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women considering reconstructive breast surgery (RBS) require adequate information to make informed treatment decisions. This study explored patients' and health professionals' (HPs) perceptions of the adequacy of information provided for decision-making in RBS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of patients who had undergone RBS and HPs providing specialist care explored participants' experiences of information provision prior to RBS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Professionals reported providing standardised verbal, written and photographic information about the process and outcomes of surgery. Women, by contrast, reported varying levels of information provision. Some felt fully-informed but others perceived they had received insufficient information about available treatment options or possible outcomes of surgery to make an informed decision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women need adequate information to make informed decisions about RBS and current practice may not meet women's needs. Minimum agreed standards of information provision, especially about alternative types of reconstruction, are recommended to improve decision-making in RBS.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, United Kingdom; Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS2 8HW, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Shelley.Potter@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.affiliation: Breast Care Centre, North Bristol NHS Trust, Southmead Hospital, Bristol BS10 5NB, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cawthorn
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, North Bristol NHS Trust, Bristol BS16 1LE, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sherif
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Surgical Research, School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol BS8 2PS, United Kingdom; Division of Surgery, Head and Neck, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol Royal Infirmary, Marlborough Street, Bristol BS2 8HW, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blazeby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D054626:Consumer Health Information / Q000379:methods; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016462:Mammaplasty / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000592:standards; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Breast cancer; Breast reconstruction; Decision-making; Information; Oncology; Qualitative study