Caregiver responses to early cleft palate care: A mixed method approach.

This study sought to understand caregivers’ (CGs’) responses to early cleft lip/palate care for their infants

Coping with Cleft: A Conceptual Framework of Caregiver Responses to Nasoalveolar Molding

To present a conceptual framework of caregiver coping and adaptation to early cleft care using nasoalveolar molding

Concurrent validity of the COHIP

This study examined the relationship between children’s perception of their OHRQOL and their perceptions of their dentofacial image, social anxiety, and self-concept as an assessment of the concurrent validity for the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP)

Surgeon’s and Caregivers’ Appraisals of Primary Cleft Lip Treatment with and without Nasoalveolar Molding: A Prospective Multicenter Pilot Study

Despite the increasing use of nasoalveolar molding (NAM) in early cleft treatment, questions remain about its effectiveness. This study examines clinician and caregiver appraisals of primary cleft lip and nasal reconstruction with and without NAM in a non-randomized, prospective multicenter study

Nasoalveolar Molding: Prevalence of Cleft Centers Offering NAM and Who Seeks It

Nasoalveolar molding (NAM) is a treatment option available for early cleft care. Despite the growing debate about NAM’s efficacy, questions remain regarding its prevalence and demographic characteristics of families undergoing this technique prior to traditional cleft surgery

Parent-Reported Family Functioning among Children with Cleft Lip/Palate

To examine family functioning related to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in youth with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P)

Caregiver responses to early cleft palate care: A mixed method approach.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to understand caregivers’ (CGs’) responses to early cleft lip/palate care for their infants. METHOD: A prospective, mixed methods multicenter longitudinal study was conducted among CGs (N=118) seeking treatment for their infants’ cleft lip and palate or cleft lip only at one of six cleft treatment centers in the United States. Participants were in one of two treatment groups: traditional care only or nasoalveolar molding (NAM) plus traditional care. The CGs completed semi-structured interviews and standardized questionnaires assessing psychosocial well-being and family impact at three time points: the beginning of treatment (~1 month of age), pre-lip surgery (~3–5 months of age), and post-palate surgery (~12–13 months of age). Multi-level modeling was used to longitudinally assess CGs’ psychosocial outcomes. RESULTS: While the first year was demanding for all CGs, NAM onset and the child’s lip surgery were particularly stressful times. CGs used optimism, problem-solving behavior, and social support to cope with this stress. Qualitatively, CGs’ ability to balance cleft treatment demands with their psychosocial resources and coping strategies influenced family adaptation. Qualitative and quantitative results indicated CGs of NAM-treated infants experienced more rapid declines in anxiety and depressive symptoms and better coping skills over time than CGs whose infants had traditional care. CONCLUSION: CGs of NAM-treated infants experienced more positive psychosocial outcomes than CGs whose infants had traditional care. Results from the mixed model support the Family Adjustment and Adaptation Response Model as used in pediatric chronic condition research

Facial trauma: a recurrent disease? The potential role of disease prevention.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this investigation were to determine a profile of facial trauma patients presenting to the emergency department of University Hospital, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ, and to assess patient interest in violence or stress reduction programs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study of the patients was conducted with the aid of a data collection form generated specifically for the purpose of this study. Data regarding patient age, race, gender, various aspects of social history, mechanism, and nature of injury were collected over a period of 1 year. In addition, all patients were asked to respond to 4 health promotion questions. All patients for whom the oral maxillofacial surgery service was consulted were included in the study. Descriptive statistical analysis of the data was used. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were enrolled, of whom 80% were males. The mean age of patients enrolled was 30.5 years with the peak incidence of injury occurring in the 20- to 30-year-old age group (n = 30). The most frequent etiology was assault (75%), followed by motor vehicle accidents (18.5%). The most frequently occurring injury was mandible fracture (46.7%), followed by lacerations (42.4%). Within the study sample, 42.4% had previous injuries. Patients with facial injuries were 1.5 times more likely to have experienced previous interpersonal violence. This patient group also expressed an overwhelming willingness to change their behavior patterns (91.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this investigation indicated that most facial trauma patients are between the ages of 20 and 30 years and male. Assault is the most common etiologic agent resulting in facial trauma. Mandible fractures and lacerations are the most likely injuries in the facial trauma patient. Patients experiencing recurrent trauma due to assault are more responsive to violence reduction programs than those experiencing only 1 assault

Parent-Reported Family Functioning among Children with Cleft Lip/Palate

OBJECTIVE: To examine family functioning related to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics in youth with cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P). DESIGN: Cross-sectional, multisite investigation. SETTING: Six U.S. cleft centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A diverse sample of 1200 children with CL/P and their parents. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Parents completed the Family Environment Scale (FES), which assesses three domains of family functioning: cohesion (or closeness), expressiveness (open expression of feelings), and conflict. Demographic and clinical characteristics were also assessed including race, ethnicity, type of insurance, and surgical recommendations. RESULTS: The FES scores for families seeking team evaluations for their youth with CL/P (mean age = 11.6 years) fall within the average range compared with normative samples. Families receiving surgical recommendations for their youth also had FES scores in the average range, yet families of children recommended for functional surgery reported greater cohesion, expressiveness, and less conflict compared with those recommended for aesthetic surgery (P < .05). For cohesion and expressiveness, significant main effects for race (P = .012, P < .0001, respectively) and ethnicity (P =.004, P < .0001, respectively) were found but not for their interaction. No significant differences were found on the conflict domain. Families with private insurance reported significantly greater cohesion (P < .001) and expressiveness (P < .001) than did families with public insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Family functioning across domains was in the average range. However, observed differences by race, ethnicity, type of insurance, and surgical recommendation may warrant consideration in clinical management for patients and families