OBJECTIVE: Quality of life after tracheostomy was addressed by measuring its impact on well being and body image perceptions.
STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A controlled study in a laryngotracheal clinic of a tertiary referral center. Three groups were studied: 24 cannulated, 19 decannulated, and 20 noncannulated patients. They filled up 3 conventional questionnaires.
RESULTS: (1) Satisfaction-with-life scale: reduced scores were detected between cannulated and noncannulated patients. (2) Personality traits: neuroticism and extroversion: no differences were noted. (3) Body cathexis scale: both cannulated and decannulated patients scored less than noncannulated. In tracheostomy-specific issues, decannulated patients scored better than cannulated patients.
CONCLUSIONS: Reduced scores after tracheostomy indicate an overall diminished quality of life. These changes correlate with personality traits. Decannulated patients exhibited only slight improvement indicating an incomplete psychosocial recovery.
SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report on tracheostomy related quality of life in noncancer patients conducted with specific psychological questionnaires.
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