title: Clinical research in pediatric plastic surgery and systematic review of quality-of-life questionnaires.
abstract: In the first part of this article, examples of different research designs used to study pediatric patients who undergo plastic surgery are described. The remainder of the article discusses the measurement of outcomes in pediatric plastic surgery research, with a particular focus on the assessment of quality of life (QOL). Issues specific to measuring QOL in children are discussed (eg, developmental considerations, use of self- versus proxy report). The results of a systematic literature review to identify and appraise pediatric plastic surgery condition-specific measures of QOL are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, IAHS Building, Room 408D, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7, Canada. aklass@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Anne F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Klassen
authors.forename: Mitchell A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Stotland
authors.forename: Erik D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Skarsgard
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pusic
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D002056:Burns / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005660:Funnel Chest / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D012107:Research Design; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires