Determinants of satisfaction with the health state of the facial skin in patients undergoing surgery for facial basal cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the study was to assess which health beliefs predict and explain satisfaction with the facial health state of patients undergoing surgery for basal cell carcinoma.


METHODS
Data were collected by administering a newly developed questionnaire pre-operatively and 6 months post-operatively (n = 222).


RESULTS
Results show that satisfaction as measured by post-operative worrying, susceptibility and fear of developing a new BCC at other facial sites can be predicted by pre-operative health beliefs. In addition, some patients an increase in perceived susceptibility, fear of recurrence of BCC on the same site or fear of developing a new BCC at other facial sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that both pre- and post-operative perceptions predict and explain for a substantial part the extent to which patients are satisfied with their facial health state 6 months after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
Administering a short questionnaire at the start of the treatment period will give physicians a better understanding of how patients experience this skin disease. It will also help them to adjust information about BCC and its consequences to the needs of the patient.
Essers
Brigitte A B
BA
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment, University Hospital Maastricht, P. Debyelaan 25, P.O. Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, Limburg, Netherlands. bes@kemta.azm.nl
Nieman
Fred H M
FH
Prins
Martin H
MH
Krekels
Gertruud A M
GA
Smeets
Nicole W J
NW
Neumann
H A Martino
HA
D000368:Aged; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005239:Fear; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009426:Netherlands; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires