The Value of a Photobook in Informing Families About the Cosmetic Results of Surgery in Craniosynostosis.

This paper outlines the development and evaluation of a photobook resource to support parents' decision making regarding potential craniofacial surgery for their child. The photobook was developed at a UK Craniofacial Unit and consisted of preoperative and postoperative photographs of patients with craniosynostosis. It was intended to act as a visual adjunct to detailed verbal discussion of surgical treatment options. No changes in the uptake rate of surgery were detected following the introduction of the photobook. An evaluation of parents' views of the photobook indicates that families generally welcomed the resource and did not report any adverse responses. Ethical considerations of the use of such a resource cannot be discounted, and careful presentation of such a resource in the context of a specialist team is recommended.