Quality of life in patients with cleft lip and palate after operation

Cleft lip and cleft palate are the most common craniofacial anomalies. Srinagarind Hospital has 150-200 cases each year. The operating process of care, requires continuity of care involving a multidisciplinary team. When the patients go to hospital for an operation they experience pain, limited activity and also food is very different from normal life. When attending school they suffer speech articulation problems and feel shy and isolated, which has a detrimental affect on their life style and quality of life.

The main purpose of the study is to the present study quality of life in patients with cleft lip and palate after operation.

The present study is descriptive research using qualitative and quantitative approaches. The studied population were patients age 8-18 years old who were admitted at 3C Ward and Outpatient Department, Srinagarind Hospital. 33 patients were interviewed for the quantitative approach. Guideline for in-depth interview with 15 patients were used for the qualitative approach. Quantitative data were analyzed and presented in frequency, percentage and standard deviation. The qualitative data were analyzed through content analysis.

Patients consider their QOL is high level, but in detail they still worry about self concept psychological well-being. From indept interview patients would like to get further treatment to minimize their scar as soon as possible.

Patients consider their quality of life as high level, but they would like to get further treatment.