[Development of the facial feminization surgery patient's satisfaction questionnaire (QESFF1): Qualitative phase]

Facial feminization surgery is becoming a more frequently requested procedure in transsexual male to female patients transformation. A global way of reporting outcomes data and showing the beneficial impact of this specific procedure is necessary. The objective of this study is to develop a reliable and valid tool to report patients' outcomes after facial feminization surgery.

A systematic literature review, input from experts working with transsexual patients and patient interviews were used to develop the conceptual framework of the questionnaire. It includes the outcomes deemed important to facial feminization surgery and it was used to construct items of the questionnaire.

There is no specific tool for measuring patients outcomes after facial feminization surgery. Ten experts and 18 patients participated to this study. The conceptual framework includes the following themes: satisfaction with facial feminine appearance; adverse effects; quality of life. The questionnaire includes fourteen separate Likert scales, with preoperative and postoperative versions. The reliability of the questionnaire is excellent with a medium Alpha score of 0.85. Facial feminization surgery is associated with high patient satisfaction in this sample (83.7±7.41).

QESFF1 is a reliable questionnaire and its development follows the steps recommended by the patient-reported outcomes process. A large sample pilot test is needed to demonstrate its validity. The QESFF1 can provide physicians with the necessary tools to measure the impact of facial feminization surgery on male to female transsexual patients and also has the potential to support clinical trials.