Background Facial deformities hinder the social development of children1. Pediatric maxillofacial surgeries in Gaza are largely done by foreign surgical missions. While functional and clinical outcomes could be measured in follow-up appointments, the children’s quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing are rather neglected. To our knowledge, the children’s quality of life and psychological wellbeing has never been reported in Gaza. This study aims to describe the impact on quality of life and psychological wellbeing of maxillofacial surgeries done to children by visiting foreign medical missions. Methods We selected school-aged children who underwent maxillofacial surgeries by foreign missions at Al Shifa Hospital. Patients completed the Arabic versions of the Multidimensional Students Life Satisfaction Scale, Mood and Feeling Questionnaire2, Intergroup anxiety and Cross-Group Friendship scales. We followed up patients after three and six months. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Findings Quantitative The study included 20 children, evenly divided in gender and with mean age of 11.2 ±3.5 years. 18 and 17 of whom were seen three and six months postop, respectively. The general MSLSS mean at screening was 135.9, which had decreased to 134.7 at three months and significantly to 119.3 at six months. Table 1 shows means and standard deviation for sections of the MSLSS. All sections of the MSLSS remained almost the same, except the school and surrounding environments sections, which had significantly decreased at 6 months. At screening, the mean of the MFQ parents score was about 4 points higher than the child’s. This decreased to about 2 points at three months and to about 1.5 point at six months. Qualitative Several themes have emerged from the interviews conducted. Two main positive themes were a) families became less over-protective of the children, and b) Children became more physically capable of performing daily and other activities. These themes were shared by the children as well as their parents. Negative themes emerging were a) long absence from school and peer-interaction following major surgery, b) lack of clear follow-up protocols, especially for patients with complications, c) Patients needing more than one surgery end up being operated on by different teams from different countries. Interpretation Due to small population size, no statistical correlation was possible. Children seem to have a good general life satisfaction overall. However, satisfaction decreased half a year after the surgery. The satisfaction in the school and surrounding environment section dropped the most at the six-month points. Throughout, parents were more likely to thing their children are depressed than the children themselves did. Studies with a larger population and a longer follow up are warranted. Word count: 425

Ismail, A., Al Zaanin, W., Shatat, M., Shoman, H., Flaifl, Y., Qassemyar, Q., et al. (2021). Psychological Wellbeing and Quality Of Life in Children Who Underwent Maxillofacial Surgery by Foreign Missions in Gaza: A Pilot Descriptive Study. Intervento presentato a: Eleventh LPHA Conference, Ramallah.

Psychological Wellbeing and Quality Of Life in Children Who Underwent Maxillofacial Surgery by Foreign Missions in Gaza: A Pilot Descriptive Study

Guido Veronese
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

Background Facial deformities hinder the social development of children1. Pediatric maxillofacial surgeries in Gaza are largely done by foreign surgical missions. While functional and clinical outcomes could be measured in follow-up appointments, the children’s quality of life and psychosocial wellbeing are rather neglected. To our knowledge, the children’s quality of life and psychological wellbeing has never been reported in Gaza. This study aims to describe the impact on quality of life and psychological wellbeing of maxillofacial surgeries done to children by visiting foreign medical missions. Methods We selected school-aged children who underwent maxillofacial surgeries by foreign missions at Al Shifa Hospital. Patients completed the Arabic versions of the Multidimensional Students Life Satisfaction Scale, Mood and Feeling Questionnaire2, Intergroup anxiety and Cross-Group Friendship scales. We followed up patients after three and six months. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Findings Quantitative The study included 20 children, evenly divided in gender and with mean age of 11.2 ±3.5 years. 18 and 17 of whom were seen three and six months postop, respectively. The general MSLSS mean at screening was 135.9, which had decreased to 134.7 at three months and significantly to 119.3 at six months. Table 1 shows means and standard deviation for sections of the MSLSS. All sections of the MSLSS remained almost the same, except the school and surrounding environments sections, which had significantly decreased at 6 months. At screening, the mean of the MFQ parents score was about 4 points higher than the child’s. This decreased to about 2 points at three months and to about 1.5 point at six months. Qualitative Several themes have emerged from the interviews conducted. Two main positive themes were a) families became less over-protective of the children, and b) Children became more physically capable of performing daily and other activities. These themes were shared by the children as well as their parents. Negative themes emerging were a) long absence from school and peer-interaction following major surgery, b) lack of clear follow-up protocols, especially for patients with complications, c) Patients needing more than one surgery end up being operated on by different teams from different countries. Interpretation Due to small population size, no statistical correlation was possible. Children seem to have a good general life satisfaction overall. However, satisfaction decreased half a year after the surgery. The satisfaction in the school and surrounding environment section dropped the most at the six-month points. Throughout, parents were more likely to thing their children are depressed than the children themselves did. Studies with a larger population and a longer follow up are warranted. Word count: 425
poster
Psychological Wellbeing, Quality Of Life, Children, Maxillofacial Surgery, Gaza
English
Eleventh LPHA Conference
2021
2021
none
Ismail, A., Al Zaanin, W., Shatat, M., Shoman, H., Flaifl, Y., Qassemyar, Q., et al. (2021). Psychological Wellbeing and Quality Of Life in Children Who Underwent Maxillofacial Surgery by Foreign Missions in Gaza: A Pilot Descriptive Study. Intervento presentato a: Eleventh LPHA Conference, Ramallah.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/319993
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