Caregiver quality of life after pediatric tracheostomy

Erin M Wynings; Stephen R Chorney; Rebecca L Brooks; Ashley F Brown; Ashley Sewell; Candice H Bailey; Cindy Whitney; Yann-Fuu Kou; Romaine F Johnson

doi:10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111416

Caregiver quality of life after pediatric tracheostomy

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2023 Jan:164:111416. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111416. Epub 2022 Dec 9.

Authors

Erin M Wynings¹, Stephen R Chorney², Rebecca L Brooks³, Ashley F Brown⁴, Ashley Sewell⁴, Candice H Bailey⁴, Cindy Whitney⁴, Yann-Fuu Kou³, Romaine F Johnson³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
² Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Children's Health Airway Management Program, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA. Electronic address: stephen.chorney@utsouthwestern.edu.
³ Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Children's Health Airway Management Program, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.
⁴ Children's Health Airway Management Program, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA.

PMID: 36525698
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111416

Abstract

Objective: To determine the impact of a child with a tracheostomy on caregiver quality of life.

Methods: A repeated cross-sectional analysis included families with tracheostomy-dependent children between 2019 and 2021. Caregivers were surveyed using the PedsQL™ Family Impact Module with assessments at tracheostomy placement and during ambulatory office visits.

Results: Two-hundred and fifty-five surveys were performed with 66 at tracheostomy placement (26%) and 189 at follow-up visits (74%). Compared to families with healthy children, total scores at placement (77.2 vs. 87.6, P < .001) and follow-up visits (78.9 vs. 87.6, P < .001) were significantly lower among pediatric tracheostomy families. Caregivers were likely to report significant improvement in emotional functioning (6.2 points; 95% CI: 0.5-12, P = .03) and worry (9 points, 95% CI: 2.1-15.9, P = .01) over time. Demographic variables demonstrated no confounding or interactive effects.

Conclusions: The presence of a tracheostomy is associated with lower caregiver quality of life scores in the short- and long-term compared to caregivers of healthy children. Providers should be sensitive to these challenges and provide appropriate support for families of tracheostomy-dependent children.

Keywords: Caregiver; Pediatric; PedsQL™; QOL; Quality of life; Tracheostomy.

MeSH terms

Anxiety
Caregivers* / psychology
Child
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Quality of Life* / psychology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tracheostomy