Patient reported outcome measures following specialist nurse-led clinics in preparation for breast reconstruction surgery

We compared patient reported outcome measures following information given about breast reconstruction surgery by either a specialist nurse or operating consultant surgeon using a comparative and validated questionnaire. One hundred and nineteen patients considering breast reconstruction were seen by a single consultant plastic surgeon (60 participants) or by a single specialist nurse (59 participants). Response rates to the questionnaires were 70% and 71% respectively and the overall conversion rate to surgery was 86%. There were no significant differences between the outcome reported for those receiving information from the specialist nurse or the operating consultant. In conclusion we found that pre-operative specialist nurse-led information provision and preparation for breast reconstruction is effective and acceptable to patients.