Influence of psychosocial characteristics of patients and opinions of their relatives on indication for surgical treatment of pectus excavatum

Abstract

Background To assess the subjective experience of patients and their parents or relatives about the existing pectus excavatum deformity and to contribute to the definition of indications for surgical treatment of this deformity.

Methods The initial sample of psychosocial characteristics consisted of self-assessments and observations of patients (and parents) regarding their health, self-image, health care, possible environmental response to their physical appearance, expectations regarding treatment. A modified version of the original Nuss questionnaire on quality of life was used in the psychological part of the examination.

Results The study included a sample of 58 patients aged 10 to 30 years, and a sample of 58 family members of the patient (parents, relatives). The experience of poor emotional status, withdrawals, and bad self-image in patients older than 15 years than younger were significant. The tendency for female patients to have a worse experience is pronounced and significant. The largest percentage of parents have an ‘indecisive’ or ‘weakly expressed’ attitude towards surgery. Parents at a significantly higher rate show greater concern for female children.

Conclusion A systematic evaluation of the psychosocial perception of patients and their relatives (who will consent for the operation) may be a useful diagnostic assessment before correcting an anterior chest wall malformation.