Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39167227›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2024

Medical tattooing as a complementary cosmetic intervention to reduce body-image distress and mental health symptoms in U.S. breast cancer survivors.

Miranda Proctor, Jeffrey E Cassisi, Robert D Dvorak, Veronica Decker

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. "This is the first time I felt they're mine": the significance of tattoos in coping and identity reconstruction following mastectomy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Miranda ProctorCollege of Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Pictor Lane, Psychology Bldg. Room 320, Orlando, FL, USA. mirandaproctor1@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5288-2111
Jeffrey E CassisiCollege of Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Pictor Lane, Psychology Bldg. Room 320, Orlando, FL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2288-5690
Robert D DvorakCollege of Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of Central Florida, Pictor Lane, Psychology Bldg. Room 320, Orlando, FL, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0613-1277
Veronica DeckerCollege of Nursing, Department of Nursing Systems, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816-2385, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8509-3362

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeA review of the literature revealed a high incidence of body-image distress among breast cancer survivors who had surgery. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between medical tattooing as a complementary cosmetic intervention and body-image distress and mental health outcomes among breast cancer survivors following surgery.

methodsWe examined 330 post-surgical breast cancer survivors collected through a nationwide online survey in the U.S., pursuing two main objectives. First, we investigated body-image distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress in survivors who underwent breast cancer surgery, comparing those with medical tattooing (n = 89) and those without (n = 226). Second, we assessed the influence of the participant's surgery type on body-image distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress. Additionally, we evaluated whether individual factors, such as appearance investment, satisfaction with decision, and cosmetic expectation discrepancy, predicted the participant's body-image distress.

resultsFindings suggest that participants with medical tattoos reported significantly lower body-image distress, depression and anxiety symptoms, and perceived stress compared to those without medical tattoos. The participant's surgery type did not significantly predict body-image distress, depression or anxiety symptoms, or perceived stress. However, participants who reported greater appearance investment endorsed higher body-image distress. Participants who reported higher satisfaction with their treatment decisions and lower cosmetic expectation discrepancy endorsed lower body-image distress.

conclusionMedical tattooing may be a valuable tool in improving body-image distress and mental health for those who wish to pursue it, but more research is needed. Empirical studies supporting the mental health benefits of medical tattooing among survivors are crucial to standardize insurance coverage and promote its inclusion as a complementary intervention across insurance providers nationwide. This complementary intervention should be considered using a patient-centered approach that aligns with the patient's values and preferences.

Indexed as

AnxietyBody ImageBreast NeoplasmsCancer SurvivorsDepressionTattooingAdultAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMental HealthMiddle AgedPsychological DistressStress, PsychologicalSurveys and QuestionnairesBody-image distressBreast cancerComplementary interventionMedical tattooingMental healthSurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID39167227

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.