This section outlines research led by researchers at the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) into the development, acceptability, feasibility and effectiveness and use of PEGASUS. Most research into PEGASUS has been carried out with patients considering breast reconstruction or breast augmentation. However, because PEGASUS does not contain information about surgical options (the relevant health professional gives that information to the patient, since this is the health professional’s expertise), we believe it could be used with patients considering any surgical procedure.

In 2011, an acceptability study was funded by the Breast Cancer Campaign (ref2011MaySP25) and conducted at the Royal Free Hospital, London. Eighteen women contemplating breast reconstruction (a surgical procedure to recreate a breast shape after mastectomy) completed the PEGASUS intervention, before semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 women and 3 health professionals to explore their views about PEGASUS and experiences of using it. Feedback extremely positive – women found it useful and easy to complete as part of a discussion with a specially trained health professional, it helped them to prepare for the surgical consultation and they also described how it had increased their levels of trust in their surgeon. Their goals for reconstruction caried considerably but, when supported by the intervention, they were able to articulate them clearly and rate them in terms of importance. Surgeons reported that PEGASUS facilitated patient-centred discussions and informed the decisions they and they patients made about potential surgery.  

In 2015, Breast Cancer Now funded a multi-centre trial of the PEGASUS intervention (ref 2014NovPR415), to evaluate its effectiveness in promoting shared decision making for women contemplating breast reconstruction. This trial took place across five NHS sites and recruited more than 140 women to take part (56 of whom received the PEGASUS intervention). Results of this study suggested that PEGASUS offered some benefits for women considering breast reconstruction. For example, interviews with patients and healthcare professionals involved in the trial suggested that PEGASUS made it easier for some women to consider what was important to them when making decisions regarding breast reconstruction. PEGASUS helped some women to think about the questions they wanted to ask, and healthcare professionals told us that PEGASUS helped them to focus on what was important for each woman. This study demonstrated the potential for PEGASUS to be a valuable addition to the limited tools available to support decision making for women considering breast reconstruction, as well as the possible challenges that can be encountered when conducting research of this kind.

For more information on these studies please see the outputs section. 

In 2014, the National Institute of Aesthetic Research (NIA) (a joint initiative by the Healing Foundation and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS)) funded a study of the acceptability of the PEGASUS intervention with women seeking breast augmentation as a cosmetic surgical procedure. 

This multi-centred study examined the use of PEGASUS with 17 women seeking breast augmentation and 4 cosmetic surgeons. The results provided preliminary support for the acceptability of PEGASUS to breast augmentation patients and aesthetic providers working in the private sector. 

This study was conducted by Nicole Paraskeva, at the Centre for Appearance Research, UWE, Bristol. For more details, please see outputs from this research.