A study was conducted to assess attitudes of women with breast cancer following their participation in a health outcome interview survey. The majority of the sample indicated that the interview was easier than expected and no one reported being inconvenienced by the interview; 94 percent indicated they were glad to have participated and 58 percent felt they had received some personal benefit. There was no evidence of distress resulting from participation. (Am J Public Health 1981; 71:1396-1398 In the course of the past decade, increasing interest has been focused on the protection of medical research subjects, partially as a response to media coverage of cases where the rights of subjects have been abusedl-3. Researchers suggest that it is the responsibility of the scientist to protect the interests of subjects4 5 and an increasing number of regulations have been designed to ensure that subject consent is informed and that potential risk to the subjects is minimized.In large part, research in the area of subject protection has focused on studies involving invasive techniques.6-'5Health survey research has generally been considered physically safe for subjects although human subject review committees and community physicians may raise questions concerning psychological risks such as embarrassment or anxiety. 16 This study is intended to supply some information on subject attitudes concerning participation in a health interview study. Materials and MethodsSubjects were participants in a project assessing outcome from cancer-related breast surgery. All 151 subjects had been diagnosed as having local or regional breast cancer and had been interviewed three to 12 months following their mastectomy. All subjects were contacted with the consent of their physician and were interviewed in their homes for approximately 70 minutes. Subjects were advised that they were not likely to receive any personal benefit from their participation. Information was obtained on demographic characteristics, available support systems (social, professional, financial), treatment regimen, and several aspects of physical recovery from and psychological adjustment to their mastectomy. For example, subjects were queried in detail about their experience of physical side effects, and the degree to which the operation had affected their sexual feelings and activities.Six to ten months after the interview, a questionnaire and cover letter were sent to the participants together with a stamped self-addressed envelope to use in returning responses. A total of 120 (80 percent) returned completed questionnaires, four (3 percent) were identified by relatives as deceased, one (1 per cent) had moved out of the country, and one (1 per cent) was identified as too sick to participate.There were no significant differences between respondents and non-respondents on any major variables of the original study. ResultsRespondents were asked why they agreed to be interviewed. Six possible responses were provided and one or more could be chosen. Responses,...

It has been estimated that there are 36,000 women living with secondary breast cancer in the UK. Many feel isolated and unsupported, their information needs unmet and unaware of available support services such as palliative care or support groups that could help to improve their quality of life.To try to address these needs, a monthly support day was established in 2014 by the national UK breast cancer charity Breast Cancer Haven (BCH) at their Yorkshire centre. The support day provides an opportunity for personal introductions and discussion with other people with secondary breast cancer, to obtain information about breast cancerrelated topics of their choice, to eat a healthy lunch and to experience a visualisation/ relaxation session. To evaluate how helpful this support day was to its participants, they were asked to complete a feedback form at the end of the day. A total of 171 forms were completed from 26 support days during the period February 2014-July 2018.Participants stated that they found the support day helpful, relaxing, informative, supportive and enjoyable. All except two felt it met their needs and expectations and the majority found the length of the day just right. The personal introduction and discussion session were most frequently cited as the most useful part of the day, with the majority of participants (N = 144, 96.7%) rating it as very or moderately helpful.These findings show that the BCH support day, developed to address the needs of people with secondary breast cancer, is a model of survivorship care that can have a positive impact on their lives. Keywords: secondary breast cancer, support, survivorship, model of care Short Communication ecancer 2019, 13:991; www.ecancer.org; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3332/ecancer.2019.991 ParticipantsParticipants were people with secondary breast cancer from Leeds, Halifax, Huddersfield, York, Wakefield and Bradford who had attended the BCH, Yorkshire centre in Leeds. Their ages ranged from forties to late seventies with varying levels of mobility and general health.An email or letter was sent to all the people with secondary breast cancer on the centre's visitor list (approximately 60) 2 weeks before each support day inviting them to attend. The numbers attending each support day averaged around 10-15. Secondary breast cancer support day programmeThe secondary breast cancer support days are organised from 11 am to 3 pm, including a healthy lunch dividing the day into morning and afternoon sessions. Participants can attend as much or as little of the day as they like, which may be determined by, for example, their level of fatigue.

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