Table 5 Detailed analysis of the BREAST-Q domain “information/opinion from/of reconstructive surgeon and opinion of the medical team and about office staff” of patients undergoing heterologous breast reconstruction alone or in combination with mesh.

	BR with Implant alone (n = 27)			BR using mesh (n = 34)
BREAST-Q domain	n	Mean score	SD	n	Mean score	SD	p-value
BR: breast reconstruction; n = number completed; SD: standard deviation; n. a.: not available § Mann-Whitney U test was used for not normally distributed data
Domain-specific questions
Information received from reconstructive surgeon (answers from 1 to 4 points)
How the breast reconstruction surgery was to be done?	27	3.52	0.893	34	3.44	0.786	0.437§
Healing and recovery time?	27	3.37	0.839	33	3.12	0.960	0.313§
Possible complications?	27	3.44	0.801	33	3.21	0.893	0.294§
The options you were given regarding the types of breast reconstruction?	27	3.30	0.993	33	3.33	0.777	0.768§
The options you were given regarding timing of your breast reconstruction?	27	3.59	0.797	32	3.59	0.756	0.899§
The pros and cons of timing of your breast reconstruction?	26	3.58	0.809	31	3.29	0.864	0.097§
How long the process of breast reconstruction would take from start to finish?	26	3.46	0.811	33	3.33	0.854	0.536§
What size you could expect your breasts to be after reconstructive surgery?	26	3.38	0.898	33	3.27	0.944	0.619§
How much pain to expect during recovery?	26	3.35	0.892	32	2.88	1.129	0.107§
What you could expect your breasts look like after surgery?	26	3.31	0.788	33	3.12	0.960	0.536§
How long after reconstruction surgery it would take to feel like yourself/feel normal again?	26	3.27	0.778	32	2.75	0.984	0.045§
How the surgery could affect future breast cancer screening?	25	3.16	0.898	32	2.97	0.967	0.464§
Lack of sensation in your reconstructed breast and nipple?	22	3.05	0.899	32	2.84	1.019	0.512§
What other women experienced with their breast reconstruction surgery?	31	2.78	0.736	31	2.48	1.061	0.237§
What the scars would look like?	32	3.20	0.707	32	3.00	1.016	0.657§
Opinion of reconstructive surgeon (answers from 1to 4 points)
Was a professional?	25	3.96	0.192	32	3.88	0.336	0.231§
Gave you confidence?	27	3.93	0.267	33	3.64	0.742	0.074§
Involved you in the decision-making process?	27	3.74	0.594	33	3.57	0.708	0.241§
Was reassuring?	27	3.89	0.320	33	3.52	0.795	0.035§
Answered all your questions?	27	3.93	0.267	33	3.55	0.666	0.005§
Made you feel comfortable?	27	3.81	0.396	33	3.36	0.929	0.046§
Was thorough?	27	3.81	0.396	33	3.73	0.674	0.938§
Was easy to talk to?	27	3.89	0.320	33	3.45	0.794	0.011§
Understood what you wanted?	26	3.85	0.368	33	3.52	0.755	0.059§
Was sensitive?	27	3.85	0.362	33	3.36	0.859	0.008§
Made time for your concerns?	27	3.89	0.320	32	3.38	0.833	0.004§
Was available when you had concerns?	27	3.67	0.555	32	3.31	0.780	0.058§
Opinion of medical team other than surgeon (answers from 1–4 points)
Were professional?	27	3.78	0.424	34	3.47	0.615	0.038§
Treated you with respect?	27	3.89	0.320	34	3.65	0.646	0.115§
Were knowledgeable?	27	3.74	0.526	33	3.67	0.540	0.512§
Were friendly and kind?	27	3.85	0.362	34	3.65	0.646	0.226§
Made you feel comfortable?	27	3.85	0.362	34	3.47	0.788	0.032§
Were thorough?	27	3.78	0.424	34	3.53	0.706	0.153§
Made time for your concerns?	27	3.81	0.396	34	3.26	0.828	0.003§
Opinion of medical office (answers from 1 to 4 points)
Were professional?	26	3.77	0.514	34	3.65	0.646	0.395§
Treated you with respect?	26	3.81	0.402	34	3.74	0.448	0.515§
Were knowledgeable?	26	3.73	0.452	33	3.76	0.435	0.816§
Were friendly and kind?	26	3.77	0.430	34	3.76	0.431	0.968§
Made you feel comfortable?	26	3.73	0.452	34	3.59	0.609	0.419§
Were thorough?	26	3.77	0.514	34	3.65	0.544	0.287§
Made time for my concerns?	26	3.69	0.549	34	3.53	0.615	0.261§