Nipple-Areola Tattoos: Making the Right Referral.

Purpose/objectives: To examine oncology care providers' knowledge of tattooing options for patients who have elected to have breast reconstruction as part of their breast cancer treatment. 
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Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: A large metropolitan cancer center in New York and various locations across the United States
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Sample: 68 oncology care providers who work with women with breast cancer, distributed into two groups.

Methods: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize online survey responses for the two groups, with inferential comparisons made with logistic regression models
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Main Research Variables: Healthcare profession, discussion of reconstructive tattoo options with patients, knowledge of providers of reconstructive tattoos outside of traditional healthcare settings, and recommendations made to patients
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Findings: RNs were significantly less likely to recommend a professional tattoo artist to a patient than non-RNs, despite a similar proportion of both groups believing that a tattoo artist would provide the patient with a better tattoo than healthcare providers (HCPs).

Conclusions: Additional research is needed to identify education deficits in HCPs regarding tattoo reconstruction options. HCPs are recommending potentially substandard options for nipple-areola tattooing, even though many believe that tattoo artists, who are outside of the traditional healthcare setting, could provide better outcomes for patients.

Implications For Nursing: Nurses and other HCPs require additional education about nipple-areola tattoo options for patients following breast cancer surgery
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