The Eurocleft study: intercenter study of treatment outcome in patients with complete cleft lip and palate. Part 5: discussion and conclusions.
OBJECTIVE
To review the lessons learned from a longitudinal intercenter comparison study.


METHODS
Longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
Multidisciplinary cleft services in Northern Europe.


METHODS
Individuals with repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.


METHODS
The first four papers in this series report amount of treatment, cephalometric form, nasolabial appearance, dental arch relationship, patient/parent satisfaction. This paper considers the consistency of outcome at the five centers over time, and other relationships between outcomes.


RESULTS
Some outcomes measured in childhood can be predictive over time. The amount of treatment does not correlate with the quality of clinical outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of clinical outcome in childhood is an important and valid form of clinical audit. Intercenter studies are more informative than single center reports, and will have an important future role in cleft care.
Shaw
William C
WC
Department for Oral Health and Development, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom. bill.shaw@man.ac.uk
Brattström
Viveca
V
Mølsted
Kirsten
K
Prahl-Andersen
Birte
B
Roberts
Christopher T
CT
Semb
Gunvor
G
D000293:Adolescent; D019985:Benchmarking; D015982:Bias; D002648:Child; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery*; D019230:Dental Audit; D005060:Europe; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D019647:Oral Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards