QUT research study – Share your thoughts about new breast reconstruction technologies

Member

7 years ago

Hi all,

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) are undertaking research which aims to combine new breast implant technology (involving three-dimensional printing) with standard methods of breast reconstruction to provide women affected by breast cancer with a reconstruction that has a more natural shape and feel.

As part of this project, the researchers have developed a short online survey to understand more about how women diagnosed with breast cancer make decisions about whether or not to have a breast reconstruction, as well as how women may feel about the new breast reconstructive technology.

Who can participate?
You can participate in this study if you:

Have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Please note: you do NOT have to have had a breast reconstruction to participate in this project.

What does the study involve?
Participating in the study involves completing an online survey. The survey will take approximately 10 to 15 minutes and your responses will be anonymous.

If you participate in the survey, you will be asked some questions about yourself and the diagnosis of breast cancer. These will include: how many years it has been since your diagnosis of breast cancer, what cancer treatments you received and whether or not you chose to have a breast reconstruction. You will also be asked: If there was a new reconstructive breast technology introduced in clinical practice, what do you think is the most likely event or factor that would influence your opinion or behaviour in relation to choosing the new breast technology over a commonly used operation like an implant or FLAP operation?

The survey also includes a couple of general purpose questions relating to human behaviour. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions; the questions help the researchers understand more about how people make decisions.

As a token of their appreciation, the researchers are offering participants the chance to go in for a single lucky draw prize of $1,000. If you win, you will receive $500 in cash and the chance to select a charity to win another $500. There is no obligation to participate in this competition.

How do I take part?
To participate in this study, go to the Study’s webpage: https://survey.qut.edu.au/f/192244/9748/.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr Stephen Whyte on sg.whyte@qut.edu.au.

Thanks very much for taking the time to consider this opportunity.

Published 7 years ago

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breast-reconstruction

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Lisa_BCNA

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Joined December 03, 2013

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Flaneuse
Member
7 years ago
I agree with @Annski. Overall, a poorly designed survey. Any findings drawn from it about likelihood to choose new technology for reconstruction would not be valid.
Annski
Member
7 years ago

I thought this survey was not well designed. There were a lot of assumptions. As many have noted, not everyone has a "breast care nurse". The amount of communication with a surgeon can be very variable and this makes a huge difference. The decisions people make about stocks and shares seems irrelevant to this issue although the actual cost of the procedure would beimportant. I would not think this is the right way to find out whether people would be receptive to 3-D technology for breast reconstruction. Many do not/would not want the same breast. Others may feel there is no need for breast reconstruction at all. The lack of any opportunity for feedback on the survey was annoying.
Flaneuse
Member
7 years ago
I have just completed the survey, though at one point I tried to find a way to exit it. The survey made me ANGRY. There were not sufficient response options. Too many assumptions - e.g. that reconstruction is done by a Plastic Surgeon. In many public hospitals, it's by a surgeon. The behavioural attitude questions about investment portfolios and financial advisors made me FURIOUS! Perhaps it's just the current political climate heightening my sensitivities to those kinds of issues.
primek
Member
7 years ago
I also completed. My breast reconstruction was done by my breast surgeon. This survery assumes it is a plastic surgeon. Other than background or finances and weight I believe it lacked the opportunity for much more depth in the survey. I guess it wanted to figure out who was willing to trial something new without evidence.
Lisa_BCNA
Member
7 years ago
Hi all, thanks so much again to everyone for providing feedback about the survey. We've been in touch with the research team and Dr Steve Whyte has asked that we share this with you.

-------------------------------------------------------
Firstly to the more than 450 women who have already participated in the study thank you so much for taking the time to be part of the survey. The hardest part of studying human behaviour is getting people to participate and provide information. The research team really appreciates your support.

Secondly thanks for your feedback on response/questions, either by directly contacting me via email or by commenting on the BCNA post. We really appreciate your feedback (information – this is what we are trying to capture, information on women’s experiences through the breast cancer journey), all of which will be incorporated into the study to the best of our ability.

I’m sorry if any participants felt parts of the survey were restrictive, we tried to do the best we could with the survey trying to capture as much information as we could. Obviously online surveys (Quantitative research) are far more restrictive than one-to-one interviews (Qualitative research) and we were restricted by our limited funding and went with an online survey to try and get as much info from as many breast cancer patients as we could.

Thanks to all who have taken the time to reach out and be part of our study, we really appreciate it. The study’s results will be made freely available when completed in early 2019. For those who participated and selected this option you’ll be sent an anonymised breakdown of the descriptive statistics directly via email.

Please feel free to share the study via any social media or breast cancer charities/organisations you are associated with, or with anyone else you think may like to participate. The study will be open for about another 7 weeks until Jan 31st 2019.

Thanks for your help, wishing you all a happy and safe Christmas/NY holiday break,

Steve

Dr Stephen Whyte
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
School of Economics & Finance | QUT Business School | Queensland University of Technology
Email: sg.whyte@qut.edu.au
arpie
Member
7 years ago
WOW! That is awesome,@j9k - My surgeon was lovely but not THAT good! ;)

I just can't see how most of those questions having ANY relevance to Breast Reconstruction. :(
j9k
Member
7 years ago
I know they are busy @arpie but surely there could be a more consistent experience with them. Fortunately I had a wonderful surgeon who gave me her home number and told me to call anytime if I was concerned about anything. She held my hand before I was wheeled into surgery. I guess I don't know what I missed out on by not having a good BC nurse but my surgeon was my lifeline. I was lucky. 🙂
arpie
Member
7 years ago
Well said, @j9k. Much more eloquent response than mine! ;) Yes, I went with the 'tried & tested' method rather than trying new stuff in that question

My experience with the BC Nurse was the same as you - my surgeon's nurse, not a 'specific BC nurse'. Once I'd had the surgery (got the bra & the brochures) she took 1-2 weeks to get back to me with any query and then nothing. I wasn't impressed.
j9k
Member
7 years ago
Hi @Lisa_BCNA, I just did the survey. I also didn't have a breast care nurse. It took my third occurence this year, 13yrs after my first BC before I saw one and then all she did was bring in bras and give me brochures after my surgery. Also another option for recommendations should have been 'wouldnt recommend to friend' which procedure. I was too frightened of reconstruction so didn't have it and wouldn't recommend something that crucial if I had not experienced it and wouldn't anyway. I would support friend to find out all info to come to own decision that was right for her. And I have concerns about the new procedure and the possibility of regenerating BC. Granted I don't know anything about it but that would be a major concern for me. @arpie also think they are trying to assess risk taking - would you gamble on a potentially better outcome or play it safe. Such as would you go for a new reconstruction procedure or go with the tried and true. Without room for comments, these surveys only get part of the story and a very narrow profile of people and their info. I guess it's early days and they want a quick reference point but it's frustrating as a participant when you can't qualify an answer such as - I didn't have a BC nurse.
arpie
Member
7 years ago
I thought the questions at the end were pretty stupid. It is obviously trying to see if you are a glass half full or half empty person (or that is how I saw it.) In the first few questions a specific number of people were going to die ..... just rephrasing it to a percentage dying & others surviving is just stupid. The first statement already assumed the other 2/3 were going to survive if only 1/3 died!

They should have had a section where you can input your own info in your own words.

What has your political or religious preference got to do with BC, let alone your income?

Sure I had Private Cover - but it didn't pay for all of it! Are they assuming it did? Still $6000+ out of pocket!

Pretty useless survey IMHO