Laryngology

Vol. 46: Issue 1 - February 2026

Factors affecting the quality of life of caregivers of children with tracheostomy: an assessment tool

Authors

Ahmed Alkhateeb , Danah Alrusayyis , Aishah AlGhuneem , Hussain Alsheef , Mohammed Halawani , Noura Alanazi , Lama Alshenaifi , Anas Altammas , Hussain Alsaleh , Meshael Alkusayer , Bader Alaslab , Talal Al-Khatib

Key words: tracheostomy, quality of life, questionnaire, caregiver, pediatric
DOI: 10.14639/0392-100X-A934
Publication Date: 2026-03-09

Abstract

Objectives. Develop and validate comprehensive questionnaire scales to investigate the quality of life (QoL) of parents caring for tracheostomised children and identify potential contributing factors.
Methods. This is a cross-sectional questionnaire conducted in paediatric otolaryngology clinics in 5 tertiary hospitals. Caregivers caring for children with tracheostomies at home between April 2023 and March 2024 were included. The survey items were divided into 4 distinct domains: (1) frequency of healthcare utilisation; (2) awareness and knowledge; (3) skills in tracheostomy care; and (4) caregiver’s QoL. Internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability were assessed.
Results. Eighty-seven caregivers completed the survey. The combined Cronbach’s α coefficient was 0.81. Exploratory factor analysis values exceeded 0.75 for most items. The awareness level, ease of obtaining tracheostomy tubes, and experience in tracheostomy care showed a significant positive association with the QoL.
Conclusions. TrachQoL questionnaire is a reliable tool that may help guide clinical interventions and future research. Scales for caregivers’ level of knowledge and skills and accessibility to healthcare services are useful for investigating QoL in families caring for children with a tracheostomy.

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Authors

Ahmed Alkhateeb - Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Corresponding author - aaalkhateeb@iau.edu.sa

Danah Alrusayyis - Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Royal Medical Services-Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain

Aishah AlGhuneem - Department of General Surgery, Royal Medical Services-Bahrain Defence Force Hospital, Riffa, Kingdom of Bahrain

Hussain Alsheef - Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Network of Specialized Hospitals, Children Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

Mohammed Halawani - Paediatric Otolaryngology Division, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah Specialized Children Hospital, National Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Noura Alanazi - King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Lama Alshenaifi - King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Anas Altammas - Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Hussain Alsaleh - Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, King Faisal General Hospital, Al Ahsaa, Saudi Arabia

Meshael Alkusayer - Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Bader Alaslab - College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Talal Al-Khatib - Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgey, King Abdulaziz University, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Copyright

Copyright (c) 2026 Società Italiana di Otorinolaringoiatria e chirurgia cervico facciale

How to Cite
Alkhateeb, A., Alrusayyis, D., AlGhuneem, A., Alsheef, H., Halawani, M., Alanazi, N., Alshenaifi, L., Altammas, A., Alsaleh, H., Alkusayer, M., Alaslab, B., & Al-Khatib, T. (2026). Factors affecting the quality of life of caregivers of children with tracheostomy: an assessment tool. ACTA Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 46(1), 43–50. https://doi.org/10.14639/0392-100X-A934
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