Factors Affecting Communication Skills among Patients with Facial Disfigurement

Document Type : Original Article

Abstract

 Background: Patients with facial disfigurement still encountered with social stigmatization,
major life crisis which subsequently may relate to negative self- perception. Social support is the
important factor that may affect the psychosocial adjustment of patients with facial disfigurement. Aim
of the study: to assess factors affecting communication skills among patients with facial disfigurement.
Design: A descriptive exploratory (cross- sectional) research design was utilized. Setting: The study
was conducted in Ismailia city in Suez Canal university hospitals at outpatients’ clinics (Surgery, Plastic
Surgery and Dermatology). Subjects: Purposive sample comprised 191 patients admitted to the
previous mentioned setting. Tools of data collection: tool I: interview questionnaire to assess
demographic data and medical history, tool II: questionnaire to assess factors affecting facial
disfigurement and included self- esteem, stigma and perception, and tool III: questionnaire to assess
communication skills. Results: The studied subjects were aged between 35< 45 years old with 57.1 %
of them were females. The majority of the patients were average self-esteem and highly socially
stressed. Most of disfigured patients were stigmatized and more than three fifths of the them had
perceived negative impact on psychological and emotional wellbeing. Also, the majority of the patients
showed lacking of social communication skills. Conclusion: The study concluded that disfigured
patients had a problem with communication skills that had a significant relationship with highly socially
stressed, feeling stigmatized, social impairment, and negative impact on psychological well-being.
Recommendations: develop psychosocial services in health care institutions to provide psychological
support and rehabilitation for facially traumatic patients. 

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