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Background: Breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL) is a significant complication of breast cancer treatment that can impact patients' quality of life. This study focuses on the translation and cultural adaptation of two new LYMPH-Q scales 'Impact on Work' and 'Lymphedema worry' into Dutch to assess the work-related challenges and worries experienced by patients with BCRL in the Netherlands. Methods: The translation process followed established guidelines from the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Forward and back translations, expert panel reviews, cognitive debriefing interviews with patients with BCRL, and proofreading were conducted to refine the Dutch translation of the scales. The translation aimed to ensure conceptual equivalence and cultural relevance. Results: The translation process resulted in the Dutch versions of the LYMPH-Q 'Impact on Work' and 'Lymphedema worry' scales. The forward translation revealed discrepancies in meaning, word order and synonyms. The back translation and review resulted in changes in item formulation. The expert panel meeting and cognitive debriefing interviews provided valuable input for further refinement. Conclusion: The translated LYMPH-Q 'Impact on Work' and 'Lymphedema worry' scales provide healthcare professionals with an instrument to assess and monitor the impact of BCRL on work-related challenges and on worries. This comprehensive translation process, involving patients with BCRL and experts, ensured the linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and clarity of the Dutch versions. The translated scales will contribute to a better understanding of the multifaceted impact of BCRL and facilitate the development of tailored interventions to improve patients' well-being and functional outcomes. Level of Evidence: Not ratable [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The impact of hard-to-heal wounds extends beyond traditional clinical metrics, negatively affecting a patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Yet treatment outcomes are seldom measured from the patient's perspective. The purpose of the present study was to perform in-depth qualitative interviews with patients diagnosed with varying types of hard-to-heal wounds to identify outcomes important to them. Method: Participants were recruited from wound care clinics in Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and the US, and were included if they had a hard-to-heal wound (i.e., lasting ≥3 months), were aged ≥18 years, and fluent in English, Dutch or Danish. Qualitative interviews took place between January 2016 and March 2017. An interpretive description qualitative approach guided the data analysis. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and coded line-by-line. Codes were categorised into top-level domains and themes that formed the final conceptual framework. Results: We performed 60 in-depth interviews with patients with a range of wound types in different anatomic locations that had lasted from three months to 25 years. Participants described outcomes that related to three top-level domains and 13 major themes: wound (characteristics, healing); HRQoL (physical, psychological, social); and treatment (cleaning, compression stocking, debridement, dressing, hyperbaric oxygen, medication, suction device, surgery). Conclusion: The conceptual framework developed as part of this study represents the outcome domains that mattered the most to the patients with hard-to-heal wounds. Interview quotes were used to generate items that formed the WOUND-Q scales, a patient-reported outcome measure for patients with hard-to-heal wounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) for chronic wounds mainly focus on specific types of wounds. Our team developed the WOUND‐Q for use with all types of wounds in any anatomic location. We conducted 60 concept elicitation interviews with patients in Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, and the United States. Analysis identified concepts of interest to patients and scales were formed and refined through cognitive interviews with 20 patients and input from 26 wound care experts. Scales were translated into Danish and Dutch. An international field‐test study collected data from 881 patients (1020 assessments) with chronic wounds. Rasch measurement theory (RMT) analysis was used to refine the scales and examine psychometric properties. RMT analysis supported the reliability and validity of 13 WOUND‐Q scales that measure wound characteristics (assessment, discharge, and smell), health‐related quality of life (life impact, psychological, sleep impact, and social), experience of care (information, home care nurses, medical team, and office staff), and wound treatment (dressing and suction device). The WOUND‐Q can be used to measure outcomes in research and clinical practice from the perspective of patients with any type of wound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Many people living with obesity may have unrealistic expectations prior to undergoing bariatric surgery. These expectations can lead to frustration, regret and even worse psychological outcomes after surgery. Prior to undergoing bariatric surgery, patients completed the BODY‐Q Expectations scale. This 15‐item scale asks patients to imagine what their life will be like when 2 years have passed since bariatric surgery. Scores for expectations range from 0 (low) to 100 (high). Linear regression models were used to assess which of the patient characteristics could predict patients' expectations. From 2019 to 2020, a total of 333 patients were recruited from three different countries. The mean score on the BODY‐Q Expectations scale was 73.1, ±20. Out of the 15 items on the Expectation scale, people living with obesity found it most likely that bariatric surgery would make them feel better and improve their energy, while it was reported least likely that they would look good without clothes on. Younger age (p = <.01) and race (non‐white) (p =.046) were found to be significant predictors for higher scores on the Expectations scale. Participants who identified as non‐white from the Netherlands and United States, and those aged under 40 years reported higher expectations compared with participants who identified as white race and were 40 years of age or older. Prior to bariatric surgery, patients aged under 40 years and those who identified as non‐white for race had higher expectations that their life would change after bariatric surgery. These relevant findings should be considered when giving pre‐operative counselling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Obesity is a global health issue known to have a major influence on health‐related quality of life (HR‐QOL). HR‐QOL is a concept evaluating physical and psychological health. Work life can impact HR‐QOL in people with obesity. The aim of this study was to measure the association between body mass index (BMI) and satisfaction with work life. This study included participants from an international multicenter field‐test study of BODY‐Q scales. Recruitment took place at hospitals in Denmark, The Netherlands and USA between June 2019 and January 2020. The BODY‐Q Work Life scale was used to measure work life satisfaction. The difference between BMI groups and work life satisfaction was examined using one‐way analysis of variance. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to examine the association between BMI and work life satisfaction, adjusted for significant confounders. Of 4123 participants, 2515 completed the BODY‐Q Work Life scale. BMI groups showed significant difference in work life satisfaction (p <.0001). The Work Life scale mean score was 77.6 for the normal BMI group, 78.5 for the overweight group and 75.0, 68.9 and 63.8 for Class 1, 2 and 3 obesity, respectively. Furthermore, BMI was significantly associated with satisfaction with work life (adjusted regression coefficient −.962, p <.0001). Higher BMI was associated with lower work life satisfaction. This finding suggests that a reduction in BMI may have a positive influence on work life satisfaction in people with obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies based on large-volume databases have made significant contributions to research on breast cancer surgery. To date, no comparison between large-volume databases has been made internationally. This is the first proof-of-concept study exploring the feasibility of combining two existing operational databases of The Netherlands and the United States, focusing on breast cancer care and immediate breast reconstruction specifically.313/291 METHODS:: The National Breast Cancer Organization The Netherlands Breast Cancer Audit (NBCA) (2011 to 2015) and the U.S. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010 to 2013) were compared on structure and content. Data variables were grouped into general, treatment-specific, cancer-specific, and follow-up variables and were matched. As proof-of-concept, mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction rates in patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ were analyzed., Results: The NBCA included 115 variables and SEER included 112. The NBCA included significantly more treatment-specific variables (n = 46 versus 6), whereas the SEER database included more cancer-specific variables (n = 74 versus 26). In patients diagnosed with breast cancer or ductal carcinoma in situ, immediate breast reconstruction was performed in 19.3 percent and 24.0 percent of the breast cancer cohort and 44.0 percent and 35.3 percent of the ductal carcinoma in situ cohort in the NBCA and SEER, respectively. Immediate breast reconstruction rates increased significantly over time in both data sets., Conclusions: This study provides a first overview of available registry data on breast cancer care in The Netherlands and the United States, and revealed limited data on treatment in the United States. Comparison of treatment patterns of immediate breast reconstruction showed interesting differences. The authors advocate the urgency for an international database with alignment of (treatment) variables to improve quality of breast cancer care for patients across the globe.