Nipple-Areola Tattoos: Making the Right Referral

To examine oncology care providers' knowledge of tattooing options for patients who have elected to have breast reconstruction as part of their breast cancer treatment. 
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Cross-sectional survey.

A large metropolitan cancer center in New York and various locations across the United States
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68 oncology care providers who work with women with breast cancer, distributed into two groups.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize online survey responses for the two groups, with inferential comparisons made with logistic regression models
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Healthcare profession, discussion of reconstructive tattoo options with patients, knowledge of providers of reconstructive tattoos outside of traditional healthcare settings, and recommendations made to patients
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RNs were significantly less likely to recommend a professional tattoo artist to a patient than non-RNs, despite a similar proportion of both groups believing that a tattoo artist would provide the patient with a better tattoo than healthcare providers (HCPs).

Additional research is needed to identify education deficits in HCPs regarding tattoo reconstruction options. HCPs are recommending potentially substandard options for nipple-areola tattooing, even though many believe that tattoo artists, who are outside of the traditional healthcare setting, could provide better outcomes for patients.

Nurses and other HCPs require additional education about nipple-areola tattoo options for patients following breast cancer surgery
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