Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective

**Background**: Facial nerve palsy (FNP) leads to a combination of aesthetic and functional deficits with profound psychosocial consequences. Significant advances have been made in restoring dynamic function through a range of facial reanimation solutions. Patient-reported severity scales are predet...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shaheen Hasmat, Tsu-Hui (Hubert) Low, Joseph R Dusseldorp, Payal Mukherjee, Jonathan R Clark
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons 2023-08-01
Series:Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.74141
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850219307741478912
author Shaheen Hasmat
Tsu-Hui (Hubert) Low
Joseph R Dusseldorp
Payal Mukherjee
Jonathan R Clark
author_facet Shaheen Hasmat
Tsu-Hui (Hubert) Low
Joseph R Dusseldorp
Payal Mukherjee
Jonathan R Clark
author_sort Shaheen Hasmat
collection DOAJ
description **Background**: Facial nerve palsy (FNP) leads to a combination of aesthetic and functional deficits with profound psychosocial consequences. Significant advances have been made in restoring dynamic function through a range of facial reanimation solutions. Patient-reported severity scales are predetermined metrics that provide limited insight into patient values and perceptions. A qualitative study was conducted to elicit the experiences of patients with FNP and explore their views and motivations for seeking therapy. **Methods**: Participants were sourced from the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute Database, Australia. Eligibility for the study included age over 18 years and a diagnosis of complete FNP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcripts were subjected to thematic text analysis. **Results**: Nineteen patients consented to participate in the study. One was excluded due to an isolated marginal mandibular nerve palsy. Five main themes emerged: eye symptoms, fear of judgement and social withdrawal, aversion to further invasive surgeries, the need for multidisciplinary streamlined care and lack of public awareness. **Conclusion**: Eye symptoms and the social consequences of FNP carry significant impact on both patients’ personal and professional lives. There is a paucity of services that can support patients across the complex spectrum of problems seen in FNP.
format Article
id doaj-art-942e1360f5fa4e1dac8e1caa8ed0c61d
institution OA Journals
issn 2209-170X
language English
publishDate 2023-08-01
publisher Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
record_format Article
series Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
spelling doaj-art-942e1360f5fa4e1dac8e1caa8ed0c61d2025-08-20T02:07:25ZengAustralian Society of Plastic SurgeonsAustralasian Journal of Plastic Surgery2209-170X2023-08-016210.34239/ajops.74141Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspectiveShaheen HasmatTsu-Hui (Hubert) LowJoseph R DusseldorpPayal MukherjeeJonathan R Clark**Background**: Facial nerve palsy (FNP) leads to a combination of aesthetic and functional deficits with profound psychosocial consequences. Significant advances have been made in restoring dynamic function through a range of facial reanimation solutions. Patient-reported severity scales are predetermined metrics that provide limited insight into patient values and perceptions. A qualitative study was conducted to elicit the experiences of patients with FNP and explore their views and motivations for seeking therapy. **Methods**: Participants were sourced from the Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute Database, Australia. Eligibility for the study included age over 18 years and a diagnosis of complete FNP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and the transcripts were subjected to thematic text analysis. **Results**: Nineteen patients consented to participate in the study. One was excluded due to an isolated marginal mandibular nerve palsy. Five main themes emerged: eye symptoms, fear of judgement and social withdrawal, aversion to further invasive surgeries, the need for multidisciplinary streamlined care and lack of public awareness. **Conclusion**: Eye symptoms and the social consequences of FNP carry significant impact on both patients’ personal and professional lives. There is a paucity of services that can support patients across the complex spectrum of problems seen in FNP.https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.74141
spellingShingle Shaheen Hasmat
Tsu-Hui (Hubert) Low
Joseph R Dusseldorp
Payal Mukherjee
Jonathan R Clark
Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective
Australasian Journal of Plastic Surgery
title Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective
title_full Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective
title_fullStr Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective
title_full_unstemmed Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective
title_short Exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management: An Australian perspective
title_sort exploring patient values and perceptions with facial nerve palsy to help guide management an australian perspective
url https://doi.org/10.34239/ajops.74141
work_keys_str_mv AT shaheenhasmat exploringpatientvaluesandperceptionswithfacialnervepalsytohelpguidemanagementanaustralianperspective
AT tsuhuihubertlow exploringpatientvaluesandperceptionswithfacialnervepalsytohelpguidemanagementanaustralianperspective
AT josephrdusseldorp exploringpatientvaluesandperceptionswithfacialnervepalsytohelpguidemanagementanaustralianperspective
AT payalmukherjee exploringpatientvaluesandperceptionswithfacialnervepalsytohelpguidemanagementanaustralianperspective
AT jonathanrclark exploringpatientvaluesandperceptionswithfacialnervepalsytohelpguidemanagementanaustralianperspective