Background: The introduction of new therapeutic options and advances in the field of breast surgery has put the importance of patient satisfaction and quality of life at par with long-term survival. These essential parameters help physicians and patients decide on the appropriate approach when managing both malignant and benign breast conditions. They have also been used to measure the outcome and success of breast surgery, whether cosmetic or reconstructive, using patients’ perspectives. To date, there is no available questionnaire that is translated, culturally adapted, and validated among Filipino patients to specifically assess their quality of life (QOL) and satisfaction after breast reconstructive surgery. Objective: This study aims to translate a previously validated, internationally accepted, patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument, the Breast-Q Reconstruction Module, and validate its use among Filipino patients. Methods: This is a tool validation study of a Filipino translation of the Breast-Q Reconstruction Module for the preoperative and postoperative settings. Forward and backward translations were done for the two questionnaires and were finalized after assessment of accuracy and feasibility by language professionals and bilingual patients. We recruited patients referred to the Division of Plastic Surgery of a tertiary government hospital for breast reconstruction to answer the final questionnaires, with 15 re-taking each questionnaire after two weeks. Psychometric properties of the questionnaires, including internal consistency, construct validity, test-retest reliability, and acceptability, were then evaluated. Results: We included 30 patients in this validation study. The internal consistencies of the translated Preoperative and Postoperative Breast-Q Reconstruction Module had high Cronbach’s α coefficients (range: 0.92–0.98 and 0.97–1.00, respectively). Internal consistency was also supported by high mean item-total correlations in all dimensions. The two questionnaires had good test-retest reliability as supported by high intraclass correlation (range for Preoperative: 0.995–1.000 and for Postoperative: 0.95–1.00). Construct validity was supported by inter-scale correlations with low to moderate Spearman’s coefficients (range for Preoperative: 0.22–0.34 and for Postoperative: 0.11–0.27). The sexual well-being dimension had the lowest inter-scale Spearman’s coefficient in both questionnaires and is the only dimension with low acceptability. Conclusion The translated Preoperative and Postoperative Breast-Q Reconstruction Module has high internal consistency, test-retest reliability, acceptability, and low to moderate construct validity among Filipino patients after breast reconstruction surgery. However, the “Satisfaction with the Nipple Reconstruction” subscale is pending since there were no qualified respondents in the sample population. In considering how their relatively conservative culture influences the way Filipino patients tend to view the importance of sexual satisfaction as it relates to their medical management, the sexual well-being domain is suggested to be interpreted separately when assessing the patient’s overall satisfaction with breast reconstruction procedure.
Mammaplasty ; Quality of Life