Breast cancer survivors’ wearable product needs and wants: a challenge to designers

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to gain basic knowledge of breast cancer survivors’ satisfaction with wearable products designed specifically for their needs. To achieve this objective a questionnaire was administered using a seven-point Likert scale and open-ended questions to query information regarding participants’ cancer diagnoses, experiences, and satisfaction with prostheses, bras, and lymphedema sleeves. The 51 participants represented the full range of cancer stages from treated pre-cancers to metastatic cancer. Participants had experienced various types of treatment including lumpectomy, mastectomy, lymph node dissection, radiation therapy, and reconstruction surgery. Participants described side effects of cancer treatment that influenced their satisfaction with wearable products and also provided opinions concerning design of the products. Participants were moderately satisfied with prostheses, mastectomy bras, and lymphedema sleeves, indicating that designers have the opportunity to work with breast cancer survivors to redesign and improve the products.

KEYWORDS:

• Bra
• breast cancer
• breast prostheses
• lymphedema
• user needs

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contributions of Chad Sowers, PhD, who was the Phelps Research Assistant for the early stages of this project. He passed away in 2012.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, MIN-53-028.