Social Perception of Microtia

NCT07721805 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 25059
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 1,271
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Rationale: Microtia is a congenital craniofacial condition characterized by the underdevelopment of the external ear. Children with microtia become aware of their deformity at a young age, and this awareness intensifies in school, where they often face social comparison. This can impact both their mental well-being and social standing. In this process, not only their self-image but also others' perceptions play important roles. Given the significant time children spend with peers, it is crucial to investigate how children of similar ages perceive microtia and whether this perception changes after auricular reconstruction. Objective: To examine the social perception of children regarding peers with microtia and auricular reconstruction. Study design: The study is of cross-sectional nature. Study population: The study population consists of primary and secondary school children aged 6 to 18 years old. Intervention: All children will be shown one of the following photos: a child with a normal ear, a child with preoperative microtia, or a child with a postoperative reconstructed ear. Subsequently, all children will evaluate the photo they have seen using 7 questions based on a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from a score of 0 to 10. Study endpoints: The study includes several endpoints. It will examine children's perception of peers with a normal ear, microtia, or a reconstructed ear in terms of the following social attributes: athleticism, confidence, friendliness, health, intelligence, popularity and willingness to interact. Additionally, it will explore whether there is a difference in the perception of primary school children and secondary school children regarding the above-mentioned social attributes.

Conditions

Microtia, Congenital; Auricular Reconstruction

Keywords

Social perception; Peer perception; Microtia; Auricular reconstruction

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Difference in social perception scores

  The primary outcome was the difference in social perception scores between the three image groups. Responses will be recorded using a visual analogue scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more favorable perception of the attribute.

  The entire assessment can be completed directly after enrollment and takes a maximum of 5 minutes.

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Differences in social perception scores between primary and secondary school

  The entire assessment can be completed directly after enrollment and takes a maximum of 5 minutes.

Study Arms (1)

Children aged 6-17 years were eligible for participation.

Attending primary or secondary school

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 6 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children aged 6-17 years attending primary or secondary schools were eligible for participation

You may qualify if:

• Attending primary or secondary school

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University Medical Center Groningen: lead

Study Sites (1)

University Medical Center Groningen

Groningen, Provincie Groningen, 9713 GZ, Netherlands

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Congenital Microtia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Ear Diseases; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Congenital, Hereditary, and Neonatal Diseases and Abnormalities

Study Officials

• Myrthe KS Hol, Prof. dr.

  University Medical Center Groningen

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 13, 2026
• First Posted: July 23, 2026
• Study Start: March 4, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 22, 2026
• Study Completion: June 22, 2026
• Last Updated: July 23, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

NL (1)