Research
Publications involving 1000s of women from numerous countries.
Advancing Knowledge & Improving Health Outcomes
Industry
Included in international clinical trials and post-market surveillance studies.
Benchmarking
Included in ICHOM Breast Cancer Standard Set to enable hospitals around the world to compare outcomes.
Patient Care
Built into electronic health records in multiple hospitals around the world.
The Basic Scale Structure
The BREAST-Q has independent modules for breast cancer (mastectomy, breast-conserving therapy, reconstruction), augmentation and reduction/mastopexy. Each module is composed of multiple scales that can be used independently. Four pre-operative and three post-operative scales are common to all breast cancer patients. These include (preoperatively) Satisfaction with Breasts and Psychosocial, Sexual, and Physical Wellbeing Chest and (postoperatively) Satisfaction with Surgeon, Medical Team and Office Staff.
Expectations
Given before surgery, this set of scales measures expectations of the patient in terms of the process and outcome of surgery.
Psychosocial Well-being
Measures psychosocial well-being with items that ask about body image and a woman’s confidence in social settings.
Physical Well-being
Measures pain or tightness and difficulty with mobility, such as lifting arms.
Sexual Well-being
Asks about feelings of sexual attractiveness, sexual confidence and comfort level during sex.
Satisfaction with Breasts
Items cover breast appearance, satisfaction with breasts and how bras fit and how the breasts feel to the touch.
Experience of Care
Measures satisfaction with information provided (about complications, healing and recovery time and details of the procedure) as well as the surgeon, medical team and office staff.
BREAST-Q | BREAST CANCER
*Expectations Module also contains a set of 21 single item questions
Publications
Select a section to see list of relevant publications
BREAST-Q DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION PUBLICATIONS
- Cano SJ, Klassen AF, Scott A, Alderman A, Pusic AL. Interpreting Clinical Differences in BREAST-Q Scores: Minimal Important Difference. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Jul;134(1): 173e-175e.
- Cano SJ, Klassen AF, Scott AM, Pusic AL. A closer look at the BREAST-Q©. Clin Plast Surg. 2013 Apr;40(2):287-96.
- McCarthy CM, Cano SJ, Klassen AF, Scott A, Van Laeken N, Lennox PA, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL. The magnitude of effect of cosmetic breast augmentation on patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Jul;130(1):218-23.
- Pusic AL, Klassen AF, Snell L, Cano SJ, McCarthy C, Scott A, Cemal Y, Rubin LR, Corderio PG. Measuring and managing patient expectations for breast reconstruction: impact on quality of life and patient satisfaction. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2012 Apr;12(2):149-58.
- Cano SJ, Klassen AF, Scott AM, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL. The BREAST-Q: Further Validation in Independent Clinical Samples. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Feb;129(2):293-302.
- Chen CM, Cano SJ, Klassen AF, King T, McCarthy C, Cordeiro PG, Morrow M, Pusic AL. Measuring quality of life in oncologic breast surgery: a systematic review of patient-reported outcome measures. Breast J. 2010 Nov-Dec;16(6):587-97.
- Pusic AL, Klassen A, Scott A, Klok J, Cordeiro PG, Cano SJ. Development of a New Patient Reported Outcome Measure for Breast Surgery: The BREAST-Q©. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Aug;124(2):345- 53.
- Klassen A, Pusic AL, Scott A, Klok J, Cano S. Satisfaction and quality of life in women who undergo breast surgery: A qualitative study. BMC Womens Health. 2009 May 1;9:11.
- Pusic AL, Reavey PL, Klassen AF, Scott A, McCarthy C, Cano S. Measuring patient outcomes after breast augmentation: Introducing the BREAST-Q: Augmentation Module. Clin Plast Surg. 2009 Jan;36(1):23-32.
- Pusic AL, Chen CM, Cano S, Klassen A, McCarthy C, Collins ED, Cordeiro PG. Measuring quality of life in cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery: a systematic review of patient-reported outcomes instruments. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2007 Sep;120(4):823-37.
- Fuzesi S, Cano SJ, Klassen AF, Atisha D, Pusic AL. Validation of the electronic version of the BREAST-Q in the army of women study. Breast. 2017 Jun;33:44-49.
BREAST-Q NORMATIVE DATA PUBLICATIONS
- Mundy LR, Homa K, Klassen AF, Pusic AL, Kerrigan CL. Breast cancer and reconstruction: normative data for interpreting the BREAST-Q. Plast Recon Surg. 2017 May;139(5):1046e-1055e.
- Mundy LR, Homa K, Klassen AF, Pusic AL, Kerrigan CL. Normative data for interpreting the BREAST-Q augmentation module. Plast Reconstr Surg 2017 Apr;139(4):846e-853e.
- Mundy LR, Homa K Klassen AF, Pusic AL, Kerrigan CL. Understanding the health burden of macromastia: normative data for the BREAST-Q reduction module. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Apr;139(4):846e-853e. Focus of video by PRS editor: http://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Pages/videogallery.aspx?videoId=1085&autoPlay=true
OTHER BREAST-Q PUBLICATIONS BY MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM
- Voineskos SH, Nelson JA, Klassen AF, Pusic AL. Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes: Key Metrics in Reconstructive Surgery. Annu Rev Med. 2018 Jan 29;69:467-479.
- Roth RS, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Ballard TNS, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Is chronic postsurgical pain surgery-induced? A study of persistent postoperative pain following breast reconstruction. Breast. 2018 Feb;37:119-125.
- Yoon AP, Qi J, Brown DL, Kim HM, Hamill JB, Erdmann-Sager J, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Outcomes of immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction: Results of a multicenter prospective study. Breast. 2018 Feb;37:72-79.
- Pusic A, Matros E, Fine N, Buchel E, Gordillo G, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Qi J, Albornoz A, Klassen AF, Wilkins E. Patient-reported outcome 1 year after immediate breast reconstruction. Results of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Mar 27. [Epub ahead of print]
- Fuzesi S, Cano SJ, Klassen AF, Atisha D, Pusic AL. Validation of the electronic version of the BREAST-Q in the Army of Women Study. Breast 2017 Mar 6;33:44-49
- Billig J, Jagsi R, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Pusic AL, Buchel E, Wilkins EG, Momoh AO. Should Immediate Autologous Breast Reconstruction be considered in Women who require Post-Mastectomy Radiation Therapy? A Prospective Analysis of Outcomes. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Feb 13. [Epub ahead of print]
- Santosa KB, Qi J, Kim HM, Hamill JB, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Effect of Patient Age on Outcomes in Breast Reconstruction: Results from a Multicenter Prospective Study. J Am Coll Surg. 2016 Dec;223(6):745-54.
- Howard MA, Sisco M, Yao K, Winchester DJ, Barrera E, Warner J, Jaffe J, Hulick P, Kuchta K, Pusic AL, Sener SF. Patient satisfaction with nipple-sparing mastectomy: A prospective study of patient reported outcomes using the BREAST-Q. J Surg Oncol. 2016 Sep;114(4):416-22.
- Alderman A, Pusic A, Murphy DK. Prospective Analysis of Primary Breast Augmentation on Body Image Using the BREAST-Q: Results from a Nationwide Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Jun;137(6):954e-60e.
- Razdan SN, Cordeiro PG, Albornoz CR, Ro T, Cohen WA, Mehrara BJ, McCarthy CM, Disa JJ, Pusic AL, Matros E. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Breast Reconstruction Options in the Setting of Postmastectomy Radiotherapy Using the BREAST-Q. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Mar;137(3):510e-517e.
- Macadam SA, Zhong T, Weichman K, Papsdorf M, Lennox PA, Hazen A, Matros E, Disa J, Mehrara B, Pusic AL. Quality of Life and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Multicenter Comparison of Four Abdominally Based Autologous Reconstruction Methods. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2016 Mar;137(3):758-71.
- Macadam SA, Zhong T, Weichman K, Papsdorf M, Lennox PA, Hazen A, Matros E, Disa J, Mehrara B, Pusic AL. Psychosocial and Sexual Well-Being Following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Reconstruction. Breast J. 2016 Jan-Feb;22(1):10-7.
- Schwitzer JA, Miller HC, Pusic AL, Matros E, Mehrara BJ, McCarthy CM, Lennox PA, Van Laeken N, Disa JJ. Satisfaction following Unilateral Breast Reconstruction: A Comparison of Pedicled TRAM and Free Abdominal Flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2015 Aug 19;3(8):e482.
- Cohen WA, Mundy L, Ballard TN, Klassen AF, Cano SJ, Browne J, Pusic AL. The BREAST-Q in surgical research: a review of the literature 2009-2015. J Plast Reconstr Aesth Surg. 2016; 69(2):149-62.
- Razdan SN, Cordeiro PG, Albornoz CR, Ro T, Cohen WA, Mehrara BJ, McCarthy CM, Disa JJ, Pusic AL, Matros E. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Breast Reconstruction Options in the Setting of Postmastectomy Radiotherapy Using the BREAST-Q. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Oct;136(4 Suppl):88-9.
- Weichman KE, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Chen X, Wilkins EG, Pusic AL. Understanding the recovery phase of breast reconstructions: Patient-reported outcomes correlated to the type and timing of reconstruction. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2015 Oct;68(10):1370-8.
- Cohen WA, Ballard TN, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Chen X, Klassen A, Wilkins EG, Pusic AL. Understanding and Optimizing the Patient Experience in Breast Reconstruction. Ann Plast Surg. 2016 Aug;77(2):237-41.
- Matros E, Albornoz CR, Razdan SN, Mehrara BJ, Macadam SA, Ro T, McCarthy CM, Disa JJ, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL Cost-effectiveness analysis of implants versus autologous perforator flaps using the BREAST-Q. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2015 Apr;135(4):937-46.
- Atisha DM, Rushing CN, Samsa GP, Locklear TD, Cox CE, Shelley Hwang E, Zenn MR, Pusic AL, Abernethy AP. A national snapshot of satisfaction with breast cancer procedures. Ann Surg Oncol. 2015 Feb;22(2):361-9.
- Albornoz CR, Matros E, McCarthy CM, Klassen A, Cano SJ, Alderman AK, Vanlaeken N, Lennox P, Macadam SA, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL. Implant Breast Reconstruction and Radiation: A Multicenter Analysis of Long-Term Health-Related Quality of Life and Satisfaction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014; 21(7):2159-64.
- Albornoz CR, Matros E, McCarthy CM, Klassen A, Cano SJ, Alderman AK, VanLaeken N, Lennox P, Macadam SA, Disa JJ, Mehrara BJ, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL. Implant breast reconstruction and radiation: a multicenter analysis of long-term health-related quality of life and satisfaction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2014 Jul;21(7):2159-64.
- Alderman AK, Bauer J, Fardo D, Abrahamse P, Pusic A. Understanding the effect of breast augmentation on quality of life: prospective analysis using the BREAST-Q. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2014 Apr;133(4):787-95.
- McCarthy CM, Mehrara BJ, Long T, Garcia P, Kropf N, Klassen AF, Cano SJ, Li Y, Hurley K, Scott A, Disa JJ, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL. Chest and upper body morbidity following immediate postmastectomy breast reconstruction. Ann Surg Oncol 2014; 21(1): 107-112.
- Ho AL, Klassen AF, Cano S, Scott AM, Pusic AL. Optimizing Patient Centered-Care in Breast Reconstruction: The Importance of Preoperative Information and Patient-Physician Communication. Plast Reconst Surg. 2013; 132(2):212e-20e.
- Koslow S, Pharmer LA, Scott AM, Stempel M, Morrow M, Pusic AL, King TA. Long-Term Patient-Reported Satisfaction after Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy and Implant Reconstruction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 May 30.
- Rosson GD, Shridharani SM, Magarakis M, Manahan MA, Basdag B, Gilson MM, Pusic AL. Quality of life before reconstructive breast surgery: FA preoperative comparison of patients with immediate, delayed, and major revision reconstruction. Microsurgery. 2013 May;33(4):253-8.
- Macadam SA, Ho AL, Lennox PA, Pusic AL. Patient-reported satisfaction and health-related quality of life following breast reconstruction: a comparison of shaped cohesive gel and round cohesive gel implant recipients. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013 Mar;131(3):431-41.
- Pusic AL, Klassen AF, Cano SJ. Discussion: The BREAST-Q: further validation in independent clinical trials. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Sep;130(3):482e-3e; author reply 483e.
- Pusic AL, Klassen AF, Cano SJ. Use of the BREAST-Q in clinical outcomes research. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2012 Jan;129(1):166e-167e; author reply 167e.
- Zhong T, McCarthy C, Min S, Zhang J, Beber B, Pusic AL, Hofer SO. Patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life after autologous tissue breast reconstruction: a prospective analysis of early postoperative outcomes. Cancer. 2012 Mar 15;118(6):1701-9.
- McCarthy CM, Klassen AF, Cano SJ, Scott A, Vanlaeken N, Lennox PA, Alderman AK, Mehrara BJ, Disa JJ, Cordeiro PG, Pusic AL. Patient satisfaction with postmastectomy breast reconstruction: a comparison of saline and silicone implants. Cancer. 2010 Dec 15;116(24):5584-91.
- Cano S, Klassen AF, Scott A, Thoma A, Feeny D, Pusic A. Health outcome and economic measurement in breast cancer surgery: challenges and opportunities. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2010 Oct;10(5):583-94.
- Macadam SA, Ho AL, Cook EK Jr, Lennox PA, Pusic AL. Patient satisfaction and health-related quality of life following breast reconstruction: A comparison of patient-reported outcomes amongst saline and silicone implant recipients. Plast Reconstr Surg 2010 Mar;125(3):761-71.
- Berlin NL, Hamill JB, Qi J, Kim HM, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Nonresponse bias in survey research: lessons from a prospective study of breast reconstruction. J Surg Res. 2018 Apr;224:112-120.
- Srinivasa DR, Garvey PB, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Pusic AL, Kronowitz SJ, Wilkins EG, Butler CE, Clemens MW. Direct-to-Implant versus Two-Stage Tissue Expander/Implant Reconstruction: 2-Year Risks and Patient-Reported Outcomes from a Prospective, Multicenter Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Nov;140(5):869-877.
- Erdmann-Sager J, Wilkins EG, Pusic AL, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Guldbrandsen GE, Chun YS. Complications and Patient-Reported Outcomes after Abdominally Based Breast Reconstruction: Results of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Feb;141(2):271-281.
- Sorkin M, Qi J, Kim HM, Hamill JB, Kozlow JH, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Acellular Dermal Matrix in Immediate Expander/Implant Breast Reconstruction: A Multicenter Assessment of Risks and Benefits. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Dec;140(6):1091-1100.
- Kulkarni AR, Pusic AL, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Qi J, Wilkins EG, Roth RS. Factors Associated with Acute Postoperative Pain Following Breast Reconstruction. JPRAS Open. 2017 Mar;11:1-13.
- Pusic AL, Matros E, Fine N, Buchel E, Gordillo GM, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Qi J, Albornoz C, Klassen AF, Wilkins EG. Patient-Reported Outcomes 1 Year After Immediate Breast Reconstruction: Results of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study. J Clin Oncol. 2017 Aug 1;35(22):2499-2506.
- Romanoff A, Zabor EC, Stempel M, Sacchini V, Pusic A, Morrow M. A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes After Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy and Conventional Mastectomy with Reconstruction. Ann Surg Oncol. 2018 Jul 2. [Epub ahead of print]
- Santosa KB, Qi J, Kim HM, Hamill JB, Wilkins EG, Pusic AL. Long-term Patient-Reported Outcomes in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction. JAMA Surg. 2018 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print]
- Klassen AF, Kaur MN, Pusic AL. Adding scales to BREAST-Q must follow the same rigor as original scales. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2018 May 22. [Epub ahead of print]
- Berlin NL, Hamill JB, Qi J, Kim HM, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Nonresponse bias in survey research: lessons from a prospective study of breast reconstruction. J Surg Res. 2018 Apr;224:112-120.
- Voineskos SH, Nelson JA, Klassen AF, Pusic AL. Measuring Patient-Reported Outcomes: Key Metrics in Reconstructive Surgery. Annu Rev Med. 2018 Jan 29;69:467-479.
- Roth RS, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Ballard TNS, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Is chronic postsurgical pain surgery-induced? A study of persistent postoperative pain following breast reconstruction. Breast. 2018 Feb;37:119-125.
- Yoon AP, Qi J, Brown DL, Kim HM, Hamill JB, Erdmann-Sager J, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Outcomes of immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction: Results of a multicenter prospective study. Breast. 2018 Feb;37:72-79.
- Srinivasa DR, Garvey PB, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Pusic AL, Kronowitz SJ, Wilkins EG, Butler CE, Clemens MW. Direct-to-Implant versus Two-Stage Tissue Expander/Implant Reconstruction: 2-Year Risks and Patient-Reported Outcomes from a Prospective, Multicenter Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Nov;140(5):869-877.
- Erdmann-Sager J, Wilkins EG, Pusic AL, Qi J, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Guldbrandsen GE, Chun YS. Complications and Patient-Reported Outcomes after Abdominally Based Breast Reconstruction: Results of the Mastectomy Reconstruction Outcomes Consortium Study. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018 Feb;141(2):271-281.
- Sorkin M, Qi J, Kim HM, Hamill JB, Kozlow JH, Pusic AL, Wilkins EG. Acellular Dermal Matrix in Immediate Expander/Implant Breast Reconstruction: A Multicenter Assessment of Risks and Benefits. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017 Dec;140(6):1091-1100.
- Kulkarni AR, Pusic AL, Hamill JB, Kim HM, Qi J, Wilkins EG, Roth RS. Factors Associated with Acute Postoperative Pain Following Breast Reconstruction. JPRAS Open. 2017 Mar;11:1-13.
Our Team
Dr Anne Klassen
McMaster University, Canada
Q-Portfolio
Dr Andrea Pusic
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, USA
Q-Portfolio
Dr Stefan Cano
Modus Outcomes, UK
Q-Portfolio
Setting the Bar in
Patient Reported
Outcome Measurement
Funding Provided By:
News Feed
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 at 7:01am
There are now 14 translations of the FACE-Q | Aesthetics module. Here is a few more scales in French:
French validation of the FACE-Q Rhinoplasty module. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/ujUHhAQdu9
There are now 14 translations of the FACE-Q | Aesthetics module. Here is a few more scales in French:
French validation of the FACE-Q Rhinoplasty module. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/ujUHhAQdu9
Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 at 6:53am
PRS just accepted our paper!
Read "CLEFT-Q: Detecting Differences in Outcomes Between 2,434 Patients With Varying Cleft Types" on https://t.co/21VHIPQyDM soon
PRS just accepted our paper!
Read "CLEFT-Q: Detecting Differences in Outcomes Between 2,434 Patients With Varying Cleft Types" on https://t.co/21VHIPQyDM soon
Saturday, December 8th, 2018 at 7:50am
Here is a review of the BODY-Q in Clin Plast Surg #weightloss #bodycontouring
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: BODY-Q. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/tINHnBvcvM
Here is a review of the BODY-Q in Clin Plast Surg #weightloss #bodycontouring
Patient-Reported Outcome Measures: BODY-Q. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/tINHnBvcvM
Saturday, December 8th, 2018 at 7:48am
Here's a new publication by our team: Leveraging patient-reported outcomes data to inform oncology clinical decision making: Introducing the FACE-Q head and neck cancer module. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/EdKw2zByCf
Here's a new publication by our team: Leveraging patient-reported outcomes data to inform oncology clinical decision making: Introducing the FACE-Q head and neck cancer module. - PubMed - NCBI https://t.co/EdKw2zByCf
Saturday, December 8th, 2018 at 7:45am
Drs Pusic, Helliwell, and Riesel ( @brighamwomens #Chief of plastic surgery, #handsurgeon, and @HarvardPlastics Chief Resident, respectively) had an awesome week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania… https://t.co/jRDiZolocV
Drs Pusic, Helliwell, and Riesel ( @brighamwomens #Chief of plastic surgery, #handsurgeon, and @HarvardPlastics Chief Resident, respectively) had an awesome week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania… https://t.co/jRDiZolocV