title: Empowering Volunteers at Tawanchai Centre for Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cleft lip and palate (CLP) congenital anomalies have a high prevalence in the Northeast of Thailand. A care team's understand of treatment plan would help to guide the family of patients with CLP to achieve the treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the impact of the empowering volunteer project, established in the northeast Thailand.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Empowering Volunteer project was conducted in 2008 under the Tawanchai Royal Granted project. The patients and family's general information, treatment, the group brainstorming, and satisfaction with the project were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants were 12 children with CLP their families and five volunteers with CLP; the participating patients were predominantly females and the mean age was 12.2 years. The treatment comprised of speech training, dental hygiene care, bone graft and orthodontic treatment. Four issues were addressed including: problems in taking care of breast feeding, instructions' needs for care at birth, difficulty in access information and society impact, and needs in having a network of volunteers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Empowering volunteer is important for holistic care of patients with CLP which provides easy access and multiple channels for patients and their families. It should be developed as part of the self-help and family support group, the development of community based team and comprehensive CLP care program.
authors.forename: Suteera
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pradubwong
authors.forename: Darawan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Augsornwan
authors.forename: Pornpen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pathumwiwathana
authors.forename: Benjamas
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Prathanee
authors.forename: Bowornsilp
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chowchuen
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013070:Speech Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D013785:Thailand; D014838:Volunteers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*