Bras for Breast Support After Sternotomy: Patient Satisfaction and Wear Compliance
For women undergoing median sternotomy, especially those with a bra cup size C or larger, breast support can reduce pain, wound breakdown, and infection. This study addressed a gap in research, identifying the best bra after sternotomy in terms of patient satisfaction and wear compliance. To evaluat...
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| Published in: | American journal of critical care Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 21 - 26 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
United States
01-01-2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | For women undergoing median sternotomy, especially those with a bra cup size C or larger, breast support can reduce pain, wound breakdown, and infection. This study addressed a gap in research, identifying the best bra after sternotomy in terms of patient satisfaction and wear compliance.
To evaluate larger-breasted women's satisfaction and compliance with wearing 3 commercially available front-closure bras-with a hook-loop closure (the hospital's standard of care), a zipper closure, or a hook-eye closure-after cardiac surgery.
This study used a posttest-only, 3-group randomized controlled design. A convenience sample of participants were sized and randomly assigned a product that was placed immediately postoperatively. Participants agreed to wear the bra at least 20 h/d until the provider cleared them for less wear. At inpatient day 5 or discharge, and at the follow-up outpatient visit, subjects completed investigator-developed surveys. Data were analyzed from 60 participants by using the χ2 test and Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance; also, patterns were identified within written comments.
Participants were most satisfied with the hook-eye front-closure product before (P = .05) and after (P = .02) discharge. Participants recommended the hook-eye and zipper products over the hook-loop bra (H = 8.39, P = .02). Wear compliance was strongest in the group wearing the hook-eye bra.
The hook-eye closure product had the most satisfaction and greatest wear compliance, and it received the highest recommendation. A practice change was made to fit and place the hook-eye bra in the operating room immediately after surgery. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-News-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1062-3264 1937-710X |
| DOI: | 10.4037/ajcc2021687 |