title: Motivations of orthodontic residents in Canada and the United States to treat patients with craniofacial anomalies, cleft lip/palate, and special needs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the motivation of orthodontic residents in Canada and the United States to treat patients with cleft lip/palate (CLP), craniofacial anomalies (CFA), and special needs (SN).
  
  
  METHODS
  In March 2009, an e-mail with a link to a 41-item survey was sent to all orthodontic residents in Canada and the United States (n  =  944).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 944 residents contacted, 339 viewed and 208 completed the survey (22.03%). Using a seven-point Likert scale, residents recognized the importance of treating patients with CLP/CFA/SN. When asked if they plan to treat patients with CLP/CFA/SN, 54.48% responded yes, 13.46% no, and 36.06% were unsure. A total of 38.05% said they would charge the same fee as a typical multiarch case, while 58.05% would charge more, and 60% of fourth-year residents would charge twice the fee. Of the respondents, 43.00% were aware of the established fellowship programs in CLP/CFA/SN. Canadian residents (67.9%) were more enthusiastic about completing a fellowship than Americans were. Of the respondents, 29.33% would complete a 1-year fellowship, while 70.67% would not. A total of 78.4% of male respondents and 77.4% of American residents indicated they would not pursue a fellowship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Residents supported the importance of treating patients with CLP/CFA/SN, and more than 54% indicated they plan to treat these patients. Residents who indicated that they would not treat these patients sited limited experience and inadequate expertise as the reasons. Less than 30% indicated a willingness to pursue a fellowship program.
authors.affiliation: Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, Canada. drjamesnoble@gmail.com
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Schroth
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Hechter
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Huminicki
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Wiltshire
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002170:Canada; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000628:therapy*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000628:therapy*; D019465:Craniofacial Abnormalities / Q000628:therapy*; D004499:Education, Dental, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009042:Motivation; D009970:Orthodontics / Q000193:education; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000639:trends*; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States