Post Notification Withdrawal Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

Having breast reconstruction post-mastectomy: Barriers and facilitators reported by Vietnamese- versus English-speaking women with breast cancer (#236)

Patsy S Soon 1 2 3 , Neda Karimi 1 , Verena S Wu 1 2 , Afaf Girgis 1 2
  1. Centre for Oncology Education and Research Translation (CONCERT), Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, UNSW Sydney, Liverpool, NEW SOUTH WALES, Australia
  2. South Western Sydney Clinical School, UNSW Sydney, Liverpool, NSW, Australia
  3. Department of Surgery, Bankstown Hospital, Bankstown, NSW, Australia

Aims: In Australia, there is increasing research on decision-making about breast reconstruction in breast cancer patients. However, little is known about the experience of women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The aim of this study was to compare the perceptions of Vietnamese- and English-speaking women on the barriers and facilitators of breast reconstruction. 

 

Methods: This qualitative study recruited Vietnamese-speaking and English-speaking women who had breast cancer treated by mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction, through breast surgeons. Interviews were undertaken in the woman’s chosen language (Vietnamese or English), audio-recorded, transcribed/translated and analysed using thematic analysis.

 

Results: Fourteen Vietnamese-speaking and 13 English-speaking patients consented to participate (mean age 57.6 years). Vietnamese- and English-speaking participants identified age, lack of information, concerns regarding surgical procedure, fears about complications and cancer recurrence as barriers to breast reconstruction. Many more Vietnamese-speaking participants identified lack of information as a barrier compared to English-speaking participants: “If I needed a surgery or not, or how long after the mastectomy, I could have reconstruction. I didn’t know any of such things.” Both groups described doctor recommendation, the ability to wear clothing of their choice and the need to feel “normal” as facilitators of breast reconstruction. However, Vietnamese-speaking participants particularly identified doctor recommendation as a major facilitator: “The enthusiasm of the surgeon played a role. His enthusiasm pushed me to have it”.

 

Conclusions: Lack of information in the patient’s preferred language is a major barrier, and doctor recommendation of breast reconstruction is an important facilitator for Vietnamese-speaking women considering breast reconstruction. As there are currently no resources in Vietnamese to assist women with decisions about breast reconstruction, it may be timely to develop a culturally appropriate decision aid, which would provide the desired information as well as facilitate shared decision-making about breast reconstruction between the woman and her doctor.

  1. Funding for this project was through the South Western Sydney Local Health District Mid-Career Research Grant Support to PSS, and AG and VSW are funded through Cancer Institute NSW grants.