Open AccessPatient-reported Outcomes in Facial Reconstruction: Assessment of FACE-Q Scales and Predictors of Satisfaction
Author(s) -
Adekunle Elegbede,
Sara Mermulla,
Silviu C. Diaconu,
Colton H. McNichols,
Yuanyuan Liang,
Fanrong Liang,
Yvonne M. Rasko,
Michael P. Grant,
Arthur J. Nam
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
plastic and reconstructive surgery. global open
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.759
H-Index - 28
ISSN - 2169-7574
DOI - 10.1097/gox.0000000000002004
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , medicine , facial trauma , patient satisfaction , quality of life (healthcare) , population , facial reconstruction , fixation (population genetics) , physical therapy , psychometrics , surgery , clinical psychology , nursing , environmental health
Background: There is a paucity of patient-reported outcome measures for facial trauma reconstruction. To measure satisfaction and health-related quality of life (HRQOL), following repair of traumatic facial fractures, we used the FACE-Q, a set of patient-reported outcome instruments designed for aesthetic facial surgery. As a step toward validating the scales for facial trauma, we evaluated their reliability. Methods: This is a prospective study of patients following primary repair of traumatic facial fractures at a level 1 trauma center from 2016 to 2018. Six FACE-Q scales with relevance to the facial trauma population were completed by patients at their 1-month postoperative visits. Predictors of satisfaction were examined using multiple linear regression models. Reliability of the scales in this population was evaluated using psychometric methods. Results: One hundred eighty-five participants fulfilled inclusion criteria. Mean scores for the 6 scales ranged from 59 (SD = 15) for Recovery-Early Life Impact to 94 (SD = 13) for Satisfaction with Medical Team . Predictors of lower satisfaction and/or HRQOL include current tobacco smoking status, mandibulomaxillary fixation, and Le Fort pattern fractures. All scales were found to have good to excellent reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.824–0.969). Conclusions: Following repair of facial fractures, patient-reported outcomes can be reliably measured using FACE-Q scales. On average, patients report poor health-related quality of life in the early postoperative period. Predictors of low satisfaction and/or poor HRQOL include current smoking habit, mandibulomaxillary fixation, and Le Fort fractures.