DEVELOPMENT OF A VALID AND RELIABLE INSTRUMENT FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS WITH CLEFTS - DETECTION OF POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

Adolescents with orofacial clefts: understanding their experiences

OBJECTIVE

To understand the experience of young people with orofacial clefts regarding life as an adolescent.

METHODS

Descriptive, qualitative study, developed in a Brazilian public and tertiary hospital, a reference center in the care of patients with craniofacial anomalies and related syndromes, between February and April 2019. The sample was defined by theoretical saturation. The following inclusion criteria were established: age between ten and 19 years old and having previously operated on orofacial cleft (lip and/or palate). Individuals with fissure associated with syndromes or other malformations were excluded. Data collection was performed through semi-structured interviews, which were audio recorded and transcribed in full. The trigger element was: how has it been for you to experience your adolescence? For the construction of the results, content analysis was used in the thematic modality.

RESULTS

Seventeen adolescents participated. From the speeches, three categories were revealed: interacting socially, feeling supported, and experiencing and facing prejudice.

CONCLUSIONS

The biopsychosocial and conflicting complexity that adolescents with orofacial clefts experience was noticed, as well as the importance of receiving support and establishing modalities of situational coping.

Large Anterior Oronasal Fistula Repair Using Pedicled Buccal Fat Pad and Fibroepithelial Tissue

Oronasal fistula (ONF) is the most common complication after palatoplasty in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP). When left untreated, it may negatively affect the quality of life, leading to development of other comorbidities. This study reports for the first time, the use of a portion of a hyperplasic tissue associated with pedicled buccal fat pad flap to repair a large anterior ONF in a 60-year-old man. The hyperplasic tissue may have developed due to the combination of a loose fitting upper denture and long-term use of dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (amlodipine besylate). There is controversy in the literature about use of pedicled buccal fat pad flap in the anterior region. However, in this study, we report successful repair of a large anterior ONF using a portion of a fibroepithelial hyperplasic tissue associated with pedicled buccal fat pad flap.

Development of a valid and reliable instrument for the assessment of quality of life in parents of children with clefts

PURPOSE

Orofacial clefts are the most common congenital malformations that affect craniofacial structures. Studies show that they have a major influence on psychological development of the patient, and on their families. A review of the literature showed a lack of specific questionnaires for children and their parents. This study investigated the impact of orofacial clefts in children on the quality of life of their parents. In addition, the results of the treatment and the quality of work of the health team members involved in this process were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

For the purpose of this study, an original questionnaire was made to analyse the effect of orofacial clefts in children who had undergone surgery on the quality of life of 73 of their parents. The questionnaire consisted of 28 simple statements, which were evaluated with a 5-degree Likert scale (from 1-fully disagree to 5-fully agree), did not require any specific additional clarification, and were easy to complete.

RESULTS

Analysis of areas of the questionnaire that applied to the parents, resulted in two subscales, parental social health and child social health, which had satisfactory Cronbach's coefficients (0.907 and 0.897, respectively). However, some issues had a relatively poor coefficient of internal consistency, which justified their expulsion from the final model of the parent questionnaire.

CONCLUSION

The questionnaire developed for this study comprised two subscales concerned with the social health of parents/respondents and the social health of adolescents, as perceived by the parents. It was a valid and reliable instrument, and it showed satisfactory quality of life for parents of adolescents with clefts.

Oral health related quality of life of children and adolescents affected by rare orofacial diseases: a questionnaire-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Rare diseases affecting the teeth, the oral cavity and the face are numerous, each of them present specific characteristics, and is a life-long condition. The aim of the study was to assess the association between Oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and demographic characteristics, clinical and dental factors, and psycho-social characteristics to investigate that oral symptoms are not the main factors underlying a decrease in OHRQoL.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a national cohort study in French centres for rare diseases (RD) specialized in orofacial diseases. The inclusion criteria were: to have received care in RD centres over the last 5 years (2012-2017) and to have been between 6 and 17 years of age on September 1, 2017. Patients were invited to answer a questionnaire composed of socio-demographic, clinical and dental questions, psychosocial questions and then fill in the Child-OIDP Index. At the end of the questionnaire, a free space was left for the patient to add a verbatim comment to provide qualitative data. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the verbatim answers.

RESULTS

Complete data were available for 110 patients. The sample included 44.5% boys and 55.5% girls. Ages ranged from 6 to 17 years old and 68.2% were between 6 to 12 years old and 31.8% were between 13 and 17 years old. Factor associated with a lower OHRQoL were: being a girl (p = 0.03), renouncement to dental care for financial reasons (p = 0.01), having syndromic disease (p = 0.01), having a problem with tooth shape and color (p = 0.03), feeling isolated, alone and different from other children (p = 0.003 and p = 0.02). Qualitative analysis highlighted very little recourse to psychological care and patients reported great anxiety and fear about the future.

CONCLUSION

OHRQoL of children suffering from these diseases is impaired, especially from the psychosocial point of view but also from that of the course of treatment and access to care. There is a need to improve the legibility of care pathways and the financial coverage of treatments.