Individuals with cleft lip and/or palate demonstrated improved self-reported psychosocial functioning following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Recommended Citation
Larson JH, Ho KC, Lai H, et al. Individuals with Cleft Lip and/or Palate Demonstrated Improved Self-Reported Psychosocial Functioning Following the Onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JPRAS Open. 2024;41:138-147. Published 2024 May 31. doi:10.1016/j.jpra.2024.05.012
Abstract
Objective:To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychosocial functioning of individuals with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P).
Methods:Patients with CL/P ≥ 6 years old were prospectively recruited from the Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic of a tertiary children's hospital. From July-October 2021, eligible patients (or their parent/guardian) were sent a survey regarding their psychosocial functioning before and after the start of the pandemic.
Main outcome measure:The difference between prepandemic and intrapandemic patient-reported outcome scores.
Results:Thirty-six patients (20 female, age: 15.9 ± 9.8 years) responded. Most had cleft lip and palate (77.8%), responded online (69.4%), interacted remotely via both voice- and video-conferencing (62.9%), and wore masks routinely (77.1%). Similar numbers of patients responded independently (27.8%), responded with the help of a parent/guardian (36.1%), or had a parent/guardian respond on their behalf (36.1%). General social-emotional well-being (p = 0.004, r rb = 0.659) and satisfaction with facial appearance (p = 0.044, r rb = 0.610) significantly improved after the start of the pandemic. Compared to their general intrapandemic social-emotional well-being scores, patients reported higher scores while wearing a mask (r rb = 0.827) and lower scores while interacting remotely (r rb = 0.605), although all were still significantly improved compared to their prepandemic scores (p ≤ 0.010). Patients also reported significant improvement in social functioning while wearing a mask (p = 0.036, r rb = 0.519), whereas they did not when considering their general intrapandemic feelings/experiences (p = 0.269, r rb = 0.211).
Conclusion:Patients with CL/P demonstrated significant improvement in overall social-emotional well-being, satisfaction with facial appearance, and social functioning after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly when wearing a mask.
Document Type
Article
PubMed ID
39027011
Affiliations
Advocate Children's Hospital