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- Presentation
JAAD Game Changer: Longitudinal Assessment of MMS Patient Quality of Life Expectations vs. Reality
Description
The presentation discusses a longitudinal study assessing patient quality of life after Mohs surgery, evaluating changes at one week, two weeks, and three months post-operation. It highlights that while patients' concerns about appearance increased immediately following surgery, their overall sense of well-being regarding the absence of cancer improved significantly after the procedure. Notably, at three months, quality of life indicators showed great improvement or stabilization. The study underscores the importance of setting realistic expectations with patients, indicating that individuals under 65, women, and smokers experienced greater challenges in their recovery and may require more support and counseling. This information is crucial for healthcare professionals to guide patients effectively through their recovery journey.
Conclusions
- Quality of life did not change significantly at one week after Mohs surgery, with patients expressing increased concern about appearance.
- While cosmetic appearance concerns persisted at two weeks post-surgery, there was a noted improvement in distress related to having cancer.
- At three months post-surgery, patients reported a significant increase in overall quality of life.
- Patients younger than 65, women, and smokers experienced lower quality of life scores throughout the evaluation period, indicating a need for targeted counseling.
- Anticipatory counseling for patients regarding expectations post-surgery is crucial for their psychological support during recovery.
- Sobanko, J. F., Zhang, J., Miller, C. J., Etzkorn, J. R., Shin, T. M., Sarwer, D. B., Margolis, D. (2016). Baseline Quality of Life and Psychosocial Health of Skin Cancer Patients. J Am Acad Dermatol.
- Shin, T. M., Sobanko, J. F. (2018). Patient quality of life fluctuates before and after Mohs micrographic surgery: A longitudinal assessment of the patient experience. J Am Acad Dermatol, 78(6), 1060-1067.