MEASURING PATIENT-BASED OUTCOMES IN A PLASTIC-SURGERY SERVICE - BREAST REDUCTION SURGICAL PATIENTS

On admission for boast reduction surgery, 110 patients completed a pre operative assessment pack containing: 1) Personal and demographic ques tions; 2) Condition-specific questions including physical symptoms and areas of life affected by their condition; 3) The SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire; and 4) The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. At 3 months an d again at 6 months after surgery, these same patients were sent posta l follow-up packs containing the SF-36 and Rosenberg questionnaires an d postoperative condition-specific questions requesting information on complications, relief of physical symptoms, scarring, pain and opinio n of the aesthetic result. The response rate was 82% (90 patients) at 3 months and 76% (84 patients) at 6 months. The results of the data co llected indicate that breast reduction surgery confers very substantia l benefit to patients in terms of greatly improved physical and psycho logical health and well-being.