Project

TEAM SMILE: creating a societal supportive network for healthcare providers, parents, and children with a cleft palate

Code
BOF/MVF/202402/012
Duration
01 September 2024 → 31 August 2025
Funding
Regional and community funding: Special Research Fund
Research disciplines
  • Medical and health sciences
    • Otorhinolaryngology not elsewhere classified
    • Speech and language therapy
    • Speech, language and hearing sciences not elsewhere classified
    • Other medical and health sciences not elsewhere classified
Keywords
interdisciplinary collaboration cleft palate Evidence-based societal collaboration Inclusion quality of life
 
Project description

A cleft in the palate (with or without a cleft in the lip) is the most common congenital craniofacial anomaly. The societal burden of this condition is substantial as this defect impacts various functional domains: speech, hearing, nutrition, oral functions, and satisfaction with appearance. A cleft (lip and) palate may have a long-lasting negative influence on social integration and well-being of patients. The World Health Organization additionally reported significant financial costs associated with this defect. Achieving speech that is understandable and acceptable to others is the most important outcome in the interdisciplinairy care of these patients. Unfortunately, speech disorders often persist even after succesful surgical closure of the palate. Speech therapy is, therefore, often necessary. Unfortunately, the content and dosage of speech therapy is not always in line with scientific evidence. Therapy is often based on a historical context rather than evidence. Based on previous qualitative research conducted by our research group, an urgent need for concrete, evidence-based information on speech therapy was reported by speech therapists and parents of children with a cleft (lip and) palate. We also detected an important gap between scientific research and clinical speech therapy practice. To address this need reported by those important stakeholders and to facilitate the implementation of evidence-based therapy techniques in clinical practice, we aim to create a supportive evidence-based network for healthcare providers, parents, children with a (cleft lip) and palate, and the broader community: "Team SMILE". Through three concrete initiatives (i.e., establishing a network, organizing workshops, and developing knowledge clips), we will tackle three different utilization and impact objectives: (1) communicating and implementing scientific findings regarding speech therapy to clinicians and key stakeholders involved in the treatment of children with a cleft (lip and) palate, (2) knowledge and skill training of healthcare providers (with a focus on speech therapists) to facilitate the implementation of scientific findings regarding speech therapy, and (3) raising awareness about the impact of a cleft (lip and) palate among the general public. These initiatives will result in improved speech therapy services for children with a cleft (lip and) palate. This will, in turn, enhance the quality of life, well-being, and participation and inclusion in society of patients and parents.