Quality of Life Among Dutch Children With a Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate: A Follow-Up Study.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of the present study were to examine the impact of a cleft lip and/or palate on the oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) in children, to examine differences between the OHRQoL scores reported by children and their parents, and to examine differences between the scores over 4 years for a subgroup of children.

DESIGN: Prospective blinded questionnaires.

SETTING: All patients were recruited from a university clinic at Academisch Centrum Tandheelkunde Amsterdam.

PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 170 children (age between 8 and 18 years) and their parents.

INTERVENTIONS: All participants completed the validated Dutch version of the Child Oral Health Impact Profile (COHIP) questionnaire.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The OHRQoL of children with a cleft lip and/or cleft palate (CL/P) was measured.

RESULTS: Parents scored significantly higher than children on the subscale "Oral Symptoms." On the subscale "Functional Well-Being," parents scored significantly lower than children. Females scored significantly higher with regard to the subscales "Functional Well-Being" and "School" in comparison to males. Children with a bilateral CL/P scored significantly lower on the subscale "Functional Well-Being" and "School" than other subgroups. Children reported a decrease in "Oral Symptoms" and "Emotional Well-Being" over time.

CONCLUSIONS: Children and their parents both reported high OHRQoL overall with some areas of difference. Females reported a better OHRQoL on "Functional Well-Being" and "School." Children with the more complex bilateral CL/P had a significantly lower OHRQoL score on "Functional Well-Being," "School," and overall COHIP.