Negar Salimi1, Aleksejūnienė Jolanta2, Yen Edwin1, Loo Angelina3. 1. 1 Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 2. 2 Division of Community Dentistry, Department of Oral Health Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 3. 3 British Columbia's Children's Hospital Cleft and Craniofacial Team, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To develop a standardized all-encompassing protocol for the assessment of cleft lip and palate patients with clinical and research implications. METHOD: Electronic database searches were conducted and 13 major cleft centers worldwide were contacted in order to prepare for the development of the protocol. In preparation, the available evidence was reviewed and potential fistula-related risk determinants from 4 different domains were identified. RESULTS: No standardized protocol for the assessment of cleft patients could be found in any of the electronic database searches that were conducted. Interviews with representatives from several major centers revealed that the majority of centers do not have a standardized comprehensive strategy for the reporting and follow-up of cleft lip and palate patients. The protocol was developed and consisted of the following domains of determinants: (1) the sociodemographic domain, (2) the cleft defect domain, (3) the surgery domain, and (4) the fistula domain. CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol has the potential to enhance the quality of patient care by ensuring that multiple patient-related aspects are consistently reported. It may also facilitate future multicenter research, which could contribute to the reduction of fistula occurrence in cleft lip and palate patients.
OBJECTIVE: To develop a standardized all-encompassing protocol for the assessment of cleft lip and palatepatients with clinical and research implications. METHOD: Electronic database searches were conducted and 13 major cleft centers worldwide were contacted in order to prepare for the development of the protocol. In preparation, the available evidence was reviewed and potential fistula-related risk determinants from 4 different domains were identified. RESULTS: No standardized protocol for the assessment of cleftpatients could be found in any of the electronic database searches that were conducted. Interviews with representatives from several major centers revealed that the majority of centers do not have a standardized comprehensive strategy for the reporting and follow-up of cleft lip and palatepatients. The protocol was developed and consisted of the following domains of determinants: (1) the sociodemographic domain, (2) the cleft defect domain, (3) the surgery domain, and (4) the fistula domain. CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol has the potential to enhance the quality of patient care by ensuring that multiple patient-related aspects are consistently reported. It may also facilitate future multicenter research, which could contribute to the reduction of fistula occurrence in cleft lip and palatepatients.
Entities:
Keywords:
cleft lip and palate; fistula; follow-up; protocol
Authors: Anna K Sander; Elisabeth Grau; Anita Kloss-Brandstätter; Rüdiger Zimmerer; Michael Neuhaus; Alexander K Bartella; Bernd Lethaus Journal: Cleft Palate Craniofac J Date: 2021-08-19