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Daily Quality-of-life Impact of Scars: An Interview-based Foundational Study of Patient-reported Themes.
- Source :
-
Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open [Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open] 2021 Apr 15; Vol. 9 (4), pp. e3522. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Apr 15 (Print Publication: 2021). - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Background: Scars negatively impact mental health. Prior patient interview studies on cutaneous scars have elicited opinions pertaining to psychosocial effects, appearance, and symptoms. There remains a need for patient-reported opinions in broader contexts, including career and sexual well-being, to better understand patients' experiences with their cutaneous scars.<br />Methods: In this qualitative study, patients with cutaneous scars participated in semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparative approach using the data software QDAMiner, to generate a thematic framework encompassing patients' experience with cutaneous scars.<br />Results: In total, 37 patients aged 25-79 years (mean 45, SD 17.9) were interviewed. Patients presented with keloid (2/37, 5%), hypertrophic (5/37, 14%), atrophic (4/37, 11%), and linear surgical (18/37, 49%) scars. Opinions fell under 8 overarching themes. Patients spoke commonly about psychological and social well-being (references to the frequency of thinking about a scar and talking about scars with others were mentioned 56 times by 26 patients and 103 times by 29 patients, respectively, for example). Discussions of sexual well-being and career were elicited but rarer (references to feeling uncomfortable when naked and negative impacts on professional networking were mentioned 17 times by 7 patients and 5 times by 3 patients, respectively, for example).<br />Conclusions: The relationship between determinants of patients' opinions of their scars and their impact on quality-of-life is complex. These results expand upon the existing knowledge of the effects scars have on quality-of-life and can contribute to the development and validation of future scar outcome measures.<br />Competing Interests: Disclosure: All the authors have no financial interest in relation to the content of this article.<br /> (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2169-7574
- Volume :
- 9
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 33868874
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/GOX.0000000000003522