Racial/Cultural Determinants of Breast Reconstruction (2)

http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=122654&cn=176


This segment from Women's Health on MentalHelp.net provides a recent study published in the 'Journal of Clinical Oncology' that show a cultural discrepancy. It was found that Latinas that retained their original cultural beliefs were significantly less likely to opt for breast reconstruction than Caucasians as well as lees likely to talk to a plastic surgeon before their mastectomy. However they are more likely to seek out more information about the procedure. This proves to be an interesting study in why a cultural group would be want to be the most informed about breast reconstruction and remain the least likely to have the procedure preformed.



http://breastcanceraware.net/2009/10/breast-reconstruction-varies-by-race.html

The second link we posted is a more intensive review of the same study in the 'Journal of Oncology'. This review provides a list of all categories of women studies, the percentages of all categories that received reconstruction. It also included a quote from the lead study author. She commented on reconstruction as an improvement on quality of life. This review also better explains the results by stating that less-accultured Latinas reported that their surgeon did not explain reconstruction and were less likely to be referred to a plastic surgeon, but they would have liked to receive the information. Through the results the study suggests that better efforts be made to present reconstruction as an option for all patients. The comparisons of these two site reviews shows that even when discussing the same study information can still be better conveyed by some sites than others. Some information can be confusing and incorrect inferences can be made from that information.