Sociodemographic Factors Predict Long-Term Attrition from Multidisciplinary Cleft Clinic

Area of Science:

• Craniofacial medicine
• Pediatric healthcare outcomes
• Health equity research

Background:

• Longitudinal follow-up is crucial for patients with cleft lip and palate.
• Understanding factors influencing patient retention is essential for optimizing care.
• Multidisciplinary cleft clinics provide comprehensive management for these complex conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and describe factors associated with patient retention and attrition.
• To analyze predictors of loss to follow-up in a multidisciplinary cleft clinic.
• To inform strategies for improving long-term patient engagement in cleft care.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study design.
• Inclusion of patients born between 1995 and 2007 with cleft lip and/or palate.
• Analysis of age at last appointment and attrition defined as no appointment after 15 years of age.

Main Results:

• Higher attrition rates were observed in Black and other racial groups compared to white patients.
• Publicly insured patients showed increased attrition compared to privately insured patients.
• Greater driving distance to the clinic was significantly associated with higher loss to follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Significant follow-up attrition exists within cleft lip and palate patient populations.
• Race, insurance status, and geographic distance are key factors influencing patient attrition.
• Addressing these disparities is vital for ensuring continuous care and improving outcomes for cleft patients.