Cosmetic Surgery Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cosmetic Surgery, including details on microsurgery, reconstruction, techniques, risks.

Clinical research in pediatric plastic surgery and systematic review of quality-of-life questionnaires.

Klassen AF, Stotland MA, Skarsgard ED, Pusic AL

Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, IAHS Building, Room 408D, 1400 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 1C7, Canada. aklass@mcmaster.ca

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.

Published 26 February 2008 in Clin Plast Surg, 35(2): 251-67.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Cosmetic Surgery Research Today. All Rights Reserved.