Swedish Version of the Latissimus Dorsi Modules of Breast-Q: Translation and Psychometric Properties
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Background: At the Sahlgrenska University Hospital; Department for Plastic Surgery, around 350 breast reconstructions are performed every year. The latissimus dorsi flap is a popular autologous flap technique which may be performed with or without implants in an immediate (at the same time as the mastectomy) or delayed setting. A disease-specific instrument, the Breast-Q, has been developed to evaluate patient-related outcome measures (PROMs) after breast reconstruction. The subscales of the Breast-Q reconstruction module; ‘Satisfaction with Back’ and ‘Physical Well Being: Shoulder and Back’ have been used to measure and collect patient subjective information regarding their well-being and health related quality of life after reconstruction with the latissimus dorsi flap. Aim: To assess whether the self assessment subscales ‘Satisfaction with Back’ and ‘Physical Well Being: Shoulder and Back’ are suitable for use as a form of evaluation for breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap in Sweden.5 Method: The study is a validation of a PROM questionnaire for breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi in Sweden. Every woman > 18 years old who had undergone reconstructive surgery with autologous latissimus dorsi flap within the past 10 years (2007-2017) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital as well as all women who were awaiting reconstructive surgery of the breast with autologous latissimus dorsi flap were included in the study. Results: Statistical analysis of the subcscales through a validation process, reliability testing and correlation testing to one another proved to be satisfactory. Conclusion: The subscales ‘Satisfaction with Back’ and ‘Physical Well Being: Shoulder and Back’ have shown good results and has satisfied the hypothesised outcome for this study. However, in order to increase its strength for use in the setting of breast reconstruction with latissimus dorsi flap, more comparative studies within this area are of interest.