Normative data for the BREAST-Q Reconstruction module in an Australian population and comparison with US norms and breast reconstruction patient outcomes

Abstract

Normative data for interpreting the BREAST-Q reconstruction module are currently limited to the US population. This study aimed to generate normative BREAST-Q data from women in the Australian general population and compare it to US norms. Secondary aims were to compare normative scores to those of women undergoing breast reconstruction post-mastectomy. Women aged 18 years and older without a history of breast cancer or breast surgery were recruited according to the Australian Census-derived population distribution. Participants completed the pre-operative BREAST-Q Reconstruction module and provided socio-demographic information. A comparison was made to a breast reconstruction patient cohort and published US norms. BREAST-Q data were obtained from 500 women. Mean BREAST-Q scores were as follows: Satisfaction with Breasts (Aus. 50.4±15.2, US 57.8±18.4), Psychosocial Well-being (Aus. 55.4±15.8, US 70.7±17.6), Physical Well-being Chest (Aus. 78.5±14.8, US 92.6±10.7), Physical Well-being Abdomen (Aus. 76.1±19.6, US 78.1±20.3) and Sexual Well-being (Aus. 41.5±20.6, US 56.5±8.2). Australian women with a higher BMI or chronic health condition reported lower scores for four of the five BREAST-Q scales. Lower scores were reported by younger women for Psychosocial Well-being and Sexual Well-being. Mean BREAST-Q scores for the Australian population were significantly lower than US norms in four of the five scales. When compared to normative data, breast reconstruction patients had significantly higher BREAST-Q scores post-operatively in all scales except for Physical Well-being Chest. This study derived only the second set of normative scores for the BREAST-Q reconstruction module reported globally and found that significant differences exist between populations.