Frequency and socio-psychological impact of taunting in school-age patients with cleft lip-palate surgical repair. Issue 7 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lorot-Marchand, A.; Guerreschi, P.; Pellerin, P.; Martinot, V.; Gbaguidi, C.C.; Neiva, C.; Devauchelle, B.; Frochisse, C.; Poli-Merol, M.L.; Francois-Fiquet, C.
• Is Part Of: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. Volume 79:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1041
• Page End: 1048
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Oto-rhino-laryngologie -- Périodiques; Pédiatrie -- Périodiques; 618.9209751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2015.04.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-5876

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="author" id="abs0005"> <title id="sect0005">Abstract</title> <sec> <title id="sect0010">Objectives</title> <p id="spar0005">Cleft lip-palate (CLP) is a "social" pathology because of its impact on the child's facial appearance and speech.</p> <p id="spar0010">School is the first place where children are confronted to others and when they start socializing. Taunting and bullying are common and their psychological impact remains hard to assess.</p> <p id="spar0015">The aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of taunting in school and its impact in CLP patients who had surgical repair.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0015">Methods</title> <p id="spar0020">We conducted a multicenter prospective study where we consecutively included patients ≥12 years who had CLP repair. During a multidisciplinary consultation they were asked to complete a questionnaire (3 parts: surgical outcomes, taunting and its impact, socio-economic status) previously approved by our psychologists.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0020">Results</title> <p id="spar0025">55 patients were included (37 B, 18 G) (mean age 15.5 years): 11 CL, 13 CP and 31 CLP.</p> <p id="spar0030">69% of patients reported having suffered from taunting and peer victimization in school. In 84% of the cases, taunting was linked to the CLP defect itself. The teasing started in primary school to reach a peak of aggressiveness in middle school. 42% of patients reported that bullying occurred at least once a day (16/38).</p> <p id="spar0035">Regarding the psychological impact of taunting, 50% of patients reported sadness, 31% depression and 26.3% were marked for life. At one time or another 29% of patients did not want to attend school because of the teasing.</p> <p id="spar0040">The grade retention rate amounted to 37.7% (20/53), and 2 patients were in special education classes. As a matter of fact, 50% of these children repeated their 1st or 2nd year of primary school.</p> <p id="spar0045">Furthermore, 47% of patients wanted to change something to their face, but 63% of them never spoke to their surgeon about additional surgeries even though they were teased in school.</p> </sec> <sec> <title id="sect0025">Conclusions</title> <p id="spar0050">Taunting is common in children with CLP. This study highlights the high frequency and impact of taunting on the daily lives and self-perception of patients with CLP or CLP repair. It is important for healthcare professionals to be aware of this issue in the context of a multidisciplinary approach.</p> </sec> </abstract>