Table 5.
Sample patient quotes from the qualitative dataset for the BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Breast scale
| BREAST-Q item* | Sample Quote from the interviews |
|---|---|
| In the past week, how satisfied or dissatisfied have you been with… | |
| a. …look in the mirror-clothed | “…My breasts look normal with clothes on…” (61–3-Ab) |
| b. …shape of breast(s) – bra on | “…My reconstructed breast looks the same as the other breast with bra on…” (63–2-Ab) |
| c. …feel normal – clothed | “…I look normal with clothes…” (53–1-Ab) |
| d. … size of breast(s) | “…I am happy with the size of my breasts…” (58–0-Im) |
| e. …wear fitted clothing | “…I am able to wear more fitted clothes…” (57–2-Ab) |
| f. …breasts lined up | “…My breasts are not in line with each other…”(63–2-Ab) |
| g. … bras fit | “…My bra doesn’t fit perfectly…” (40–3-Ab) |
| h. …softness of breasts | “…My reconstructed breasts are soft…” (62–0-Ab) |
| i. …breasts equal in size | “…My breast are equal in size…” (63–2-Ab) |
| j. … breast(s) look natural | “…My breasts look natural when I have bra on..” (63–2-Ab) |
| k. …breast(s) sits/hangs | “…The right breast doesn’t hang naturally…” (63–2-Ab) |
| l. …breast(s) feels to touch | “…Touching my breast bothers me…” (58–0-Im) |
| m. …breast(s) feels like part of body | “…It's a part of my body now…” (57–0-Ab) |
| n. …breasts closely matched | “…The breasts are not perfect match …” (42–1-Im) |
| o. ……look in the mirror-unclothed | “…I don’t like what I see when I look at my breast area in the mirror without clothes on…” (40–3-Im) |
*BREAST-Q items have been abbreviated. For a review copy of the BREAST-Q Satisfaction with Breasts scale, please visit www.qportfolio.org
Participant – Age-Stage of Breast Cancer-Type of Reconstruction, Ab- Abdomen based, Im-Implant