Provider and Patient Education on the Signs, Symptoms, and Diagnostic Criteria of Inflammatory Breast Cancer

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is the most aggressive and deadly form of breast cancer. IBC was once a universally fatal disease, but today the 5-year survival is 30-40% (Bond, Connoly, & Asci, 2010). IBC is 1% - 6% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Rarity breeds unfamiliarity in both providers and patients (Molckovsky et al., 2009). The majority of patients initially present to primary care providers (PCP). Misdiagnosis with breast cellulitis or mastitis often occurs with IBC. The majority of literature on IBC is published in oncology journals. Very little exists in primary care, gynecology, or internal medicine journals. A survey of medical and pathophysiology textbooks revealed scant information available to students of healthcare. The aim of this project was to increase both patient and PCP knowledge of the signs, symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and guidelines associated with IBC. The objectives of the project were 1. Increase local provider knowledge through a power point presentation of IBC material to local medical staff. 2. Increase public awareness of the signs, symptoms, and diagnostic criteria of IBC through printed material by development and placement of educational pamphlets in prominent patient areas in the local hospital and provider clinics. 3. Increase PCP knowledge through dissemination. A manuscript on the signs symptoms and diagnostic criteria of IBC was prepared and submitted for publication to The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. Investigation of the current evidence and attendance at the Third International Conference on IBC was followed by development of a Power Point presentation, preparation of a patient education pamphlet, and drafting of a manuscript for publication. Proposals were submitted to administration and medical directors and permission was obtained for a PCP presentation. A community focus group provided feedback on the patient education pamphlet and Fleisch-Kincade and SMOG readability criteria were utilized prior to the printing of the pamphlet. Post-presentation and focus group questionnaires provided basis for evaluation of the material. Provider questionnaires indicated that PCP who attended the meeting gained valuable information about IBC and would add the disease to their differential diagnoses for any patient with a chief complaint of erythematous, edematous, painful breast. Community focus group questionnaire indicated that two people in the group (n=22) had heard of IBC and had a friend or family member affected by the disease. The questionnaire results also indicated that 100% of participants would share the information they had learned, and review the websites listed on the pamphlet. The focus group provided excellent suggestions regarding the content and readability of the pamphlet. These suggestions were taken into account and changes were made to the final version of the pamphlet.