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Multimedia-assisted Informed Consent Procedure for Patients Undergoing Mastectomy and Implant-based Reconstruction

Completed
Conditions
Breast Cancer
Interventions
Other: Standard informed consent procedure
Other: Multimedia video
Registration Number
NCT06541223
Lead Sponsor
European Institute of Oncology
Brief Summary

Breast reconstruction is a women's right with positive psychological effects and it is an integral part of breast cancer treatment and care. A preoperative counselling is mandatory, providing information about oncologic surgery, the type of reconstruction and the expected results. This study plans to compare conventional informed consent process supported by informational brochures with a multimedia video-assisted procedure supported by the same informational brochures in breast cancer patients undergoing immediate implant-based reconstruction. The two processes will be compared in terms of information retention, patient satisfaction of the informed consent process and anxiety levels before surgery.

Detailed Description

Implant-based reconstruction is the most frequent procedure after mastectomy, able to preserve body integrity and femininity. Breast reconstruction is a women's right with positive psychological effects. It is an integral part of breast cancer treatment and care, and in the vast majority of cases it is performed in the immediate setting. Breast reconstruction is personalized and tailored to each patient, taking in consideration patient anatomy and comorbidities, cancer staging and oncologic rules and even patient desires. Patient expectations are very high and women are seeking for outstanding cosmetic results especially in case of prophylactic surgery, therefore preoperative counselling is mandatory, providing information about oncologic surgery, the type of reconstruction and the expected results. A detailed informed consent procedure must include explanations of the surgical procedure, including its benefits, alternatives and risks, information about the implants (temporary or definitive ones) and postoperative scenarios. The face-to-face discussion is supported by information brochures that include all this information. Unfortunately, the readability of these documents is often not high and the rate of information retention might be low. Recently, it has been observed that the amount of information retained by patients appears to improve using a multi-media video-assisted informed consent procedure. Aim of this study is to evaluate if a multimedia-assisted video tutorial before implant-based reconstruction could increase the information retained by patients, their satisfaction about the informed consent process and influence their anxiety levels before surgery.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Female
Target Recruitment
265
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients undergoing mastectomy for breast cancer
  • High-risk healthy patients undergoing risk reducing mastectomies
  • Unilateral and/or bilateral mastectomies
  • If unilateral mastectomy, both patients requiring or not contralateral mammaplasty of the healthy breast
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients undergoing mastectomy and autologous reconstruction
  • Patients who previously underwent unilateral mastectomy and implant reconstruction, requiring contralateral mastectomy
  • Patients not available for e-correspondence

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Multimedia Assisted Informed Consent ProcedureMultimedia videoFace-to-face informed consent procedure supported by an informational brochure approved by the hospital committee, followed by a multimedia presentation on implant-based reconstruction
Standard Informed Consent ProcedureStandard informed consent procedureFace-to-face informed consent procedure supported by an informational brochure approved by the hospital committee
Multimedia Assisted Informed Consent ProcedureStandard informed consent procedureFace-to-face informed consent procedure supported by an informational brochure approved by the hospital committee, followed by a multimedia presentation on implant-based reconstruction
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Evaluation of current state of anxiety2 weeks

Collection of Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Y1 questionnaire (minimum value: 1, maximum value: 4 - higher scores mean greater anxiety)

Evaluation of patients' understanding of plastic reconstruction procedures and surgical complications2 weeks

Collection of Reconstructive Breast Surgery Comprehension Questionnaire (minimum value: 1, maximum value: 4 - higher scores mean better understanding)

Evaluation of uncertainty and perceptions of effective decision-making2 weeks

Collection of Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) questionnaire (minimum value: 1, maximum value: 5 - higher scores mean higher decisional conflict)

Evaluation of anxiety proneness2 weeks

Collection of Spielberger State/Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) Y2 questionnaire (minimum value: 1, maximum value: 4 - higher scores mean greater anxiety)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

European Institute of Oncology

🇮🇹

Milan, Italy

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