Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

Page, Allyson D.

2nd Supervisor

Adams, Scott G.

3rd Supervisor

Baylor, Carolyn

Affiliation

University of Washington

Abstract

This study explored the psychosocial impact of BoNT-A injections for OMD and explored how participants judge the success of this treatment. Eight participants with OMD participated in a single semi-structured interview. Phenomenological methods were used to analyze the interview data into themes. Two themes and six subthemes emerged from the analysis of the data. The first theme, Botox has changed me and my experiences, explored the participants’ perspective of receiving BoNT-A injections and its psychosocial impact. The second theme, What communication is like for me, explored the psychosocial impact of BoNT-A on speech production and participation. Our results suggest that BoNT-A has a variable impact on domains related to QoL, satisfaction with treatment, speech production, and participation. This study adds novel information related to the psychosocial consequences of BoNT-A treatment in the management of OMD and builds on a literature that studies the consequences and experiences of living with OMD.

Summary for Lay Audience

Oromandibular dystonia (OMD) is a neurological disorder that may cause difficulties with opening and/or closing of the jaw, and speech production. Furthermore, facial grimacing, lip pursing or retraction, lingual protrusion and/or rotary movements of the tongue may also be present. There is no cure for OMD. Botulinum toxin type-A injections (BoNT-A) is considered to be the most effective treatment for OMD. This study explored the psychosocial impact of BoNT-A for individuals with OMD and explored how participants judge the success of this treatment. Eight participants with OMD participated in a single semi-structured interview. Qualitative phenomenological methods were used to analyze the interview data into themes. Phenomenology is a method of inquiry that allows for the exploration of the experiences of a group of people who share a common phenomenon. In this case, the common phenomenon is the experience of living with OMD and receiving of BoNT-A injections as treatment. Two themes and six subthemes emerged from the analysis of the data. The first theme, Botox has changed me and my experiences, explored the participants’ perspective of receiving BoNT-A injections and its psychosocial impact. The second theme, What communication is like for me, explored the psychosocial impact of BoNT-A on speech production and participation. The results of this study suggest that BoNT-A treatment has variable impact and effect across domains related to quality of life, expectation and satisfaction with treatment, speech production, and participation; with some participants reporting positive effects associated with receiving injections, and others reporting more negative or neutral impact. This research adds novel information relating to the psychosocial consequences of BoNT-A treatment in the management of OMD and builds on a small, but growing literature, which seeks to study the consequences and experiences of living with OMD.

Download

Share

COinS