Living with facial prosthesis: A Qualitative study - Version 1.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Experiences of patients with acquired facial defects and impact of prosthetic treatment on their daily life: a qualitative pilot study.
IRAS ID
182475
Contact name
Trevor Coward
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 2 months, 29 days
Research summary
Background:
Little is known about patients’ experience of loss of their facial parts, perception of their treatment and their needs. Moreover, there is a paucity of research on quality of life of patients receiving treatment with maxillofacial and craniofacial prostheses (1, 2).
The aim of the study is to collect qualitative data that will allow us to understand the experiences of patients with facial prostheses (such as artificial nose, ear or eye), following cancer treatment or trauma. This will include exploration of the prostheses impact on patient’s ability to undertake day-to-day activities, social interaction, as well as exploring issues surrounding access to care, treatment process and satisfaction with their prostheses.
It is envisaged that this pilot study may inform the design of a larger study in the future, aiming to implement more appropriate, coordinated care and support for patients with facial disfigurements caused by cancer treatment or trauma.References:
1. Newton, J. T., Fiske, J., Foote, O., Frances, C., Loh, I. M., & Radford, D. R. (1999). Preliminary study of the impact of loss of part of the face and its prosthetic restoration. The Journal of prosthetic dentistry, 82(5), 585-590.
2. Atay A, Peker K, Günay Y, Ebrinç S, Karayazgan B, Uysal Ö. Assessment of health-related quality of life in Turkish patients with facial prostheses. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2013;11(1):1-9.Study design and Methodology:
This will be a qualitative study comprising of in-depth one-on-one interviews with research participants using a semi-structured questionnaire. A purposive sample would be drawn from a pool of patients attending Maxillofacial and Craniofacial clinic at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London. The interview will examine patient’s experiences and daily life before and after undergoing treatment including use of maxillofacial prosthesis after treatment of cancer or trauma. Ethical approval will be sought through the NHS Research Ethics Committee. Written consent will be obtained from all participants and data collection will begin after receiving ethical approval; it is envisaged that the study will take place from December 2015 to February 2016.
Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed into written transcripts, with all patient identifiers removed. A qualitative analysis applying a thematic framework will be adopted to identify emerging themes. Data will be analysed using the NVIVO software.REC name
London - South East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0082
Date of REC Opinion
27 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion