Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39238214›Full record

ArticleWomen's health (London, England)

A qualitative study on the experiences of women undergoing surgery for developmental breast asymmetry.

Lorraine Kit Ying Ho, Sahima Jafari, Tamara Crittenden, Phillipa van Essen, Andrea Smallman, Nicola R Dean

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Women's health (London, England). The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

6 authors.

Lorraine Kit Ying HoCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
Sahima JafariCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
Tamara CrittendenCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-6484-3977
Phillipa van EssenCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-5754-9043
Andrea SmallmanDepartment of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.
Nicola R DeanCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7084-2359

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDevelopmental breast asymmetry (DBA) is a largely underreported condition where the natural growth of one breast is smaller than the other. While some degree of asymmetry or difference in size and shape is present in most women, DBA can result in more profound differences that can impact a woman's psychosocial well-being.

objectivesThis study aims to better understand the experiences of women living with DBA, their experiences seeking treatment, and their reconstructive surgical journey and outcomes.

designThis was a qualitative study involving in-depth, one-on-one semi-structured interviews with women diagnosed with DBA.

methodsParticipants were women seeking treatment for DBA through the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit at Flinders Medical Centre, a tertiary healthcare centre in Adelaide, South Australia. Interviews were recorded digitally, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.

resultsFourteen interviews were conducted with 14 women; 13 women had completed their reconstruction and 1 was undergoing reconstruction at the time of their interview. Interviews highlighted the significant psychosocial impact of DBA, the different experiences in seeking help for DBA, the information received or lack thereof, the need for medical and social support throughout the surgical process, and the varied satisfaction with surgical outcomes.

conclusionThis study highlighted the subjective experiences of women who have grown up with DBA, improving our understanding of the significant psychosocial impact of DBA. Not all participants experienced post-operative improvements in psychosocial well-being due to surgical complications or unmet expectations. This study also demonstrated the need to raise awareness about DBA and the importance of additional medical and social support for women throughout their surgical journey.

Indexed as

BreastMammaplastyQualitative ResearchAdultFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMiddle AgedPatient SatisfactionQuality of LifeSocial SupportSouth AustraliaYoung Adultbreast reconstruction surgerydevelopmental breast asymmetryqualitative study

Identifiers

PMID39238214
PMCPMC11378208

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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.