Gibreel et al identified factors affecting the quality of life for a patient with pectus excavatum. Changes following an intervention can help to determine its success. The authors are from Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Patient selection: pectus excavatum
Factors impacting the patient:
(1) feeling tired (fatigue)
(2) trouble running
(3) shortness of breath
(4) chest pain
(5) feeling bad
(6) feeling shy or self conscious
(7) feeling bothered by appearance
(8) trying to hide the pectus
(9) avoiding activities
(10) having people making fun of the deformity
The authors asked the patients about each item using responses of never, sometimes, often or very often. Alternative response scales can be used.
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