Expectations of breast-conserving therapy: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Patient Experience Research
• Qualitative Health Research

Background:

• Breast-conserving therapy (BCT) is a common treatment for early-stage breast cancer.
• Patient expectations of BCT are not well understood and influence treatment perception and quality of life.
• Understanding patient expectations is crucial for improving preoperative education and the overall patient journey.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively explore and describe patient expectations of breast-conserving therapy (BCT).
• To identify knowledge gaps in patient understanding of BCT.
• To inform enhanced preoperative patient education strategies.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory approach used with a sample of 22 women with early-stage breast cancer.
• Semi-structured interviews conducted in person and via telephone.
• Data analyzed through line-by-line coding to identify emergent themes.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified: cancer care experience, recovery, appearance, and health-related quality of life (HR-QOL).
• Despite preoperative information, patients reported limited preoperative expectations due to a lack of process knowledge.
• Postoperative care and resources helped compensate for the initial lack of expectations.

Conclusions:

• Patients often have a limited understanding of BCT, indicating a significant knowledge gap.
• Trust, rather than complete understanding, often characterizes the patient's approach to cancer treatment.
• Findings underscore the need to enhance preoperative discussions to better prepare patients for BCT.