Anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung disease Functional and psychosocial challenges

The title of this thesis “Anorectal malformations and Hirschsprung disease: functional and psychosocial challenges” reflects on the patients, their parents and their doctors. Within this manuscript we have addressed all these different concepts. We exposed some not often investigated aspects, such as QoL and anxiety of parents of patients with an anorectal malformation or Hirschsprung disease. Anxiety among mothers of newborn children with an anorectal malformation or Hirschsprung disease is an important aspect that we need not to forget. Also the ongoing parental stress during the first years of parenting a child, with one of these disorders, is something we need to keep in mind. And if necessary we need to offer psychological support to parents.
And also we proved that a multidisciplinary approach for these patients is the only way to address all
complaints that can influence the (health-related) QoL of the patients and their parents. These patients can develop for example sexual and urological problems during their life. Also psychological problems can manifest. Our patients need (transitional) outpatient care that can provide in all these aspects. With this thesis we have addressed that, both for parents and patients, functional and psychosocial problems can occur. In the future we want to focus even more on interventions that can lead to a better (health-related) QoL of both parents and patients.