Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40835267›Full record

ArticleBMJ open quality2025

Transforming care with community breast pain clinics: a validated innovative solution benefitting patients and the healthcare system.

John Robertson, Thilan Bartholomeuz, Veronica Rogers, Kevin Clifton, Izaak Gilchrist, Emily Griffiths, Mark Sibbering

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open quality, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

John RobertsonUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton Foundation Trust, Derby, UK john.robertson17@nhs.net.ORCID 0000-0001-6212-3979
Thilan BartholomeuzMid-Nottinghamshire Place Based Partnership, Nottingham, UK.
Veronica RogersUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.
Kevin CliftonChesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Chesterfield, UK.
Izaak GilchristEdge Health, London, UK.ORCID 0009-0004-3433-8867
Emily GriffithsUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.
Mark SibberingUniversity Hospitals of Derby and Burton Foundation Trust, Derby, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-2202-0956

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleLiterature shows that breast pain alone has no significant association with breast cancer. Currently, patients experiencing these symptoms are often referred to breast cancer diagnostic clinics (BCDCs), leading to an increase in unnecessary anxiety and overutilisation of already strained secondary care resources. The East Midlands Breast Pain Pathway (EMBPP) aims to establish a new pathway that improves patient care and eases pressure on BCDCs, as well as being cost-beneficial and providing a positive patient experience. AIM AND

objectivesThis study aims to evaluate the impact of the EMBPP on patient care, including safety, costs incurred by the health system and patient experience.

methodsThe EMBPP was analysed quantitatively and qualitatively using data extracted from the community breast pain clinics (CBPCs), BCDCs, patient-reported outcome measures, clinic costs, family history data and staff interviews.

resultsBreast cancer incidence within the cohort of patients with a full 12-month follow-up period was shown to be 3.7 per 1000 patients, below the population estimates in the literature. There was no delay to care for those who were diagnosed with breast cancer after attending a CBPC. The clinics were found to be cost-beneficial, with a cost-benefit ratio of 1.26 in year 1, 1.40 in year 2 and 1.56 in year 3. The pathway was positively received by patients, with 98.7% indicating that they would recommend the service.

conclusionFollowing on from previous audits and analysis of the EMBPP pathway, this national evaluation has shown that CBPCs are effective across multiple Cancer Alliances, National Health Service (NHS) Trusts and demographics. The CBPC offers a positive patient experience and is cost-beneficial and safe, with no evidence of a delay to care for the patients.

Indexed as

Pain ClinicsPain ManagementAdultAgedBreast NeoplasmsCost-Benefit AnalysisFemaleHumansMiddle AgedClinical AuditCommunity Health ServicesPain

Identifiers

PMID40835267
PMCPMC12366605

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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.