ORAL CLEFTS

PARENTS AND PATIENTS LEVEL OF SATISFACTION WITH THE OUTCOME OF TREATMENT IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was carried out in Malaysia to explore satisfaction
of non-syndrome cleft lip and plate (CLP) patients and their parents with treatment outcome.
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study. Setting: This study was carried out in two
tertiary care hospitals of Malaysia, namely University
of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) and
Hospital Kota Bharu/ Hospital Raja Perumpuan Zainab II (HKB/ HRPZII) during August 2007
to March 2009. Materials and Methods: Total eighty three CLP patients (age > 10 years) and
eighty three parents were included. The Cleft Profile Evaluation Proforma designed by Royal
College of surgeons Cleft Lip and Palate Audit Group was used to assess satisfaction with oral
cleft related features. It consisted of an eight item list speech, hearing, lip, nose, teeth, bite,
breathing and facial profile. Results: The results of present study revealed that majority of the
patients (89.8%) and parents (86.7%) were satisfied with the care and attention provided by the
oral cleft team overall. Moreover, It was found that (90.3%) of CLP patients and (83%) parents
were satisfied with the overall treatment results. After treatment, speech was very satisfactory
for (57.8%) and very unsatisfactory for (8.40%) patients. The hearing after treatment, was very
satisfactory for (62.7%), and very unsatisfactory for (7.2%) patients. Out of total 83 patients,
appearance of nose was very satisfactory for (36.1%) patients and for (15.7%) patients it was
very unsatisfactory. The speech of their child after treatment was very satisfactory for (48.2
%) parents, satisfactory for (37.3%) of the parents, unsatisfactory for (7.4%) parents and very
unsatisfactory for (6.0%) parents. The hearing of their child after treatment was very satisfactory
for (65.1 %) parents, satisfactory for (30.1%) of the parents, unsatisfactory for (2.4%) parents
and very unsatisfactory for (2.4%) parents. It may be concluded that most of patients and
parents were satisfied with the treatment provided. There was complete agreement between
the patients and parents with regard to their satisfaction about facial appearance.