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Objective: Patients suspected of having a rare (chronic) health condition have often gone a long way within the healthcare system. To date, little is known about the health-related quality of life of this group of patients. The study aims to describe the health-related quality of life and the perceived distress of patients suspected of having a rare (chronic) health condition and compare the results with standard values of the German population., Methods: Eighty patients suspected of having a rare (chronic) health condition were recruited in the nationwide intervention study "ZSE-DUO" and reported their health-related quality of life and perceived distress using the SF-8 and the Distress-Thermometer., Results: The patients rated all eight dimensions of quality of life as well as the physical and mental component scores of the SF-8 significantly lower than the general population. On average, the perceived distress was rated significantly higher. More than 90% of the sample indicated distress in the clinical range. Exhaustion, pain, limited mobility as well as worries and fears were mentioned most frequently as concrete problems, with percentages ranging from 73% to 90% of the total sample., Discussion: In comparison to German reference data, patients suspected of having a rare (chronic) health condition report a massive impairment of their quality of life and a high burden, which is especially characterized by physical and emotional problems. The lack of a diagnosis could explain the high proportion of emotional problems, as it can create a form of legitimation of one's own disease experience., Conclusion: The present results underline the need for research on the psychosocial impact of the possible presence of a rare (chronic) health condition. The high distress and the impact on the physical and psychological quality of life domains also highlight the need for care in this patient group., Competing Interests: Die Autor*innen geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Introduction:  The diagnosis of a rare congenital malformation with necessary surgical treatment is an emotionally stressful event in a parent's life and may impact parental health-related quality of life (HrQoL). We aimed to review the literature on HrQoL in parents and caregivers of pediatric surgical patients with rare congenital malformations and summarize the results., Materials and Methods:  For this scoping review, a literature search in PubMed was conducted from inception to November 21, 2019. Inclusion and exclusion criteria to select articles were defined a priori., Results:  Four articles (published 2014-2018) describing HrQoL in parents of pediatric surgical patients with rare congenital malformations in comparison to population-based references or healthy control groups were identified. Only European studies were found, and sample sizes varied between 15 and 87 participants. Results for parental HrQoL yielded inconsistencies., Conclusion:  So far, only a few studies with small sample sizes focus on parental HrQoL in pediatric surgical patients with rare congenital malformations. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the impact of a rare congenital malformation on HrQoL of all family members, it is necessary to consider three main aspects: (1) to use both generic- and disease-specific instruments measuring HrQoL of the young patient as well as his/her parents and siblings in larger sample sizes, (2) to collect longitudinal data, and (3) to consider a mixed-method approach., Competing Interests: None declared., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Purpose: Achondroplasia is the most common disproportionate short stature which impacts patients' well-being. Little is known about the burden of disease in terms of functioning of patients and few disease-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures exist. To understand the consequences of achondroplasia, the objective of the study was to develop an achondroplasia-specific PRO tool., Method: Focus group discussions including 34 German patients (age 8-18 years) and 21 parents were conducted and qualitatively analyzed. To identify relevant concepts, statements were coded according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health: Children & Youth version (ICF-CY). Upon condensation, relevant statements were reformulated as items., Results: 1950 statements related to 125 ICF-CY categories were identified. After condensation and prioritization, 59 items were retained. These were generated based on the ICF-CY domains environmental factors (27 items), activities and participation (18 items), body functions (9 items), and body structures (5 items)., Conclusions: A new instrument, the Achondroplasia Personal Life Experience Scale (APLES) to assess burden of disease and functioning from the patients perspective of children and adolescents with achondroplasia has been developed in its pilot version based on the classification of the ICF-CY. Psychometric performance of the APLES is currently being examined. Implications for Rehabilitation Using the ICF-CY within the development of a disease-specific instrument to assess burden of disease and functioning provides guidance for clinicians and researchers in the selection of appropriate instruments complying with ICF categories. Qualitative research based on focus group interviews is an effective method to elicit experiences, beliefs, points of view, understandings, perceptions, impressions, needs and concerns as well as attitudes from the perspective of the individuals on a specific topic such as functioning. Direct assessment of the patient perspective is necessary to thoroughly understand a patient's experience of disease and treatment, the impact on their functioning and relevant health-care needs. Including the perspective of the patient and its family is an important component in the provision of health-care services. Patient-reported outcomes are not only important for the development of interventions and the use in clinical trials but can also be used in medical decision-making processes.