Care for children with orofacial clefts and their families

perspectives of the multidisciplinary team

Authors

Keywords:

Child, Cleft Palate, Cleft Lip, Patient Care Team, Family

Abstract

Objective: To understand the multiprofessional team’s perspective on the care of children with orofacial clefts and their families.

Method: Qualitative study involving 12 professionals from the multidisciplinary team of an association supporting individuals with orofacial clefts, conducted through individual semi-structured interviews between February and April 2024. The data were transcribed and subjected to thematic content analysis.

Results: Three categories emerged: the role of professionals in care, the competencies and responsibilities of professionals, and the inclusion (or exclusion) of the child in care networks. It was observed that professionals recognize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and of seeking professional development; however, patient referral and counter-referral processes are deficient.

Final Considerations: The study highlighted the importance of integrated team efforts in the rehabilitation of children with orofacial clefts and their families. It underscores the need for public policies and effective coordination among health, education, and social services.

Author Biographies

Mariana Martire Mori, State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Nurse. State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Camila Moraes Garollo Piran, State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Alana Vitória Escritori Cargnin, State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Nurse. Master of Science in Nursing. State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Laís Moreira Martins, State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Nurse. State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Sonia Silva Marcon, State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. Faculty member at the State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Marcela Demitto Furtado, State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

Nurse. PhD in Nursing. Faculty member at the State University of Maringá. Maringá, PR, Brazil.

References

1. Pujol G, Riera March A. Cleft Lip Repair. StatPearls [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 Apr 25]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564326/

2. World Health Organization (WHO). Oral health [Internet]. Geneva: WHO; 2025 [cited 2025 Apr 20];Newsroom:[about 7 screens]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health

3. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Fissura labiopalatal no Sistema Único de Saúde. Brasília: Ministério da Saúde; 2017 [cited 2026 Jan 29]. Available from: https://www2.camara.leg.br/atividade-legislativa/comissoes/comissoes-permanentes/cpd/apresentacoes-em-eventos/audiencias-publicas-2017/05-07-2017-fissuras-labiopalatais/apresentacao-ministerio-da-saude/view

4. Brasília. Assembleia Legislativa. Projeto de Lei do Senado n° 385, de 2018. Altera a Lei nº 8.069, de 13 de julho de 1990 (Estatuto da Criança e do Adolescente) para dispor sobre a atenção à saúde da criança com malformação congênita e, especificamente, com fissura labiopalatal. Diário Oficial da União. 2018 [cited 2026 Jan 29]. Available from: https://www25.senado.leg.br/web/atividade/materias/-/materia/134203

5. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde. Portaria nº 1.130, de 5 de agosto de 2015. Institui a Política Nacional de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Criança (PNAISC) no âmbito do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Diário Oficial da União. 2015 [cited 2026 Jan 29];(Seção 1):37-39. Available from: https://bit.ly/4faBUOA

6. Paraná. Secretaria da Saúde. Centro de Atendimento Integral ao Fissurado Lábio Palatal - Caif. [Internet]. Curitiba: Secretaria da Saúde; 2019 [cited 2025 May 3]. Available from: https://cht.saude.pr.gov.br/CAIF/Pagina/Centro-de-Atendimento-Integral-ao-Fissurado-Labio-Palatal-Caif

7. Mori MM, Piran CMG, Cargnin AVE, Caetano GM, Tofalini AC, Rodrigues TFCS, et al. Multidisciplinary care for children with cleft lip and palate and their families: Family-Centered Care. Rev Gaúcha Enferm [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 May 3];45:e20230276. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-1447.2024.20230276.en

8. Galdino MFG, Batista NT, Martinez AF, Melo CRM, Zamboni CS, Bom GC, et al. Diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem em crianças em pós-operatório imediato de queiloplastia. Enferm Foco [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 May 10];15:e-202430. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21675/2357-707X.2024.v15.e-202430

9. Vitorino AM, Piran CMG, Mori MM, Uema RTB, Merino MFGL, Furtado MD. Therapeutic itinerary of children with cleft lip and palate. Esc Anna Nery [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 May 5];28:e20230090. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/2177-9465-EAN-2023-0090pt

10. Lethaus B, Grau E, Kloss-Brandstätter A, Brauer L, Zimmerer R, Bartella AK, et al. Clinical Follow-Up in Orofacial Clefts-Why Multidisciplinary Care Is the Key. J Clin Med [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 May 15];10(4):842-51. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10040842

11.Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care [Internet]. 2007 [cited 2025 May 3];19(6):349-57. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzm042

12. Bardin L. Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições 70; 2016. 288 p.

13. United Nations. Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Sustainable Development Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. [Intertnet] New York: United Nations; 2015 2025 [cited 2025 Apr 20]. 35 p. Available from: https://sdgs.un.org/2030agenda

14. Grollemund B, Dissaux C, Gavelle P, Pérez Martínez C, Mullaert J, Alfaiate T, et al. The impact of having a baby with cleft lip and palate on parents and on parent-baby relationship: the first French prospective multicentre study. BMC Pediatr [Internet]. 2020 [cited 2025 May 15];20:230. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-020-02118-5

15. Abulezz TA, Elsherbiny AK, Mazeed AS. Management of cleft lip and palate in Egypt: a National survey. Indian J Plast Surg [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2025 May 10];51(3):290-5. Available from: https://doi.org/10.4103/ijps.IJPS_104_18

16. Ueki S, Fujita A, Kumagai Y, Hirai Y, Tashiro E, Miyata J. Bottle-feeding techniques for children with cleft lip and palate experiencing feeding difficulties. Int J Nurs Sci [Internet]. 2022 [cited 2025 Jul 9];10(1):82-8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnss.2022.12.004

17. Mills JA, Cieza A, Short SD, Middleton JW. Development and validation of the WHO rehabilitation competency framework: a mixed methods study. Arch Phys Med Rehabi [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Jul 9];102(6):1113-23. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2020.10.129

18. Pfeifauf KD, Kamlesh B, Patel KB, Snyder-Warwick A, Gary B, Skolnick GB, et al. Survey of North American multidisciplinary cleft palate and craniofacial team clinic administration. Cleft Palate Craniofac J [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2025 Jul 9];56(4):508-13. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1055665618776069

19. Silva MEA, Reichert APS, de Souza SAF, Pimenta EAG, Collet N. Chronic disease in childhood andadolescence: family bondsin the healthcare network. Texto contexto - enferm [Internet]. 2018 [cited 2025 Jul 12];27(2):e4460016-27. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-070720180004460016

20. da Silva VAP, Gifalli M, Capone FA, Farinha FT, Prado PC, Trettene AS. Prenatal diagnosis of orofacial clefts: unveiling the parents’ experience. Rev Paul Pediatr [Internet]. 2023 [cited 2025 Jul 12];41:e2022004-11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2022004

21. van den Bosch S, Koudstaal M, Versnel S, Maal T, Xi T, Nelen W, et al. Patients and professionals have different views on online patient information about cleft lip and palate (CL/P). Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2025 Jul 12];45(6):692-99. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijom.2015.11.018

22. de Sousa GFT, Roncalli AG. Fatores associados ao atraso no tratamento cirúrgico primário de fissuras labiopalatinas no Brasil: uma análise multinível. Ciênc Saúde Coletiva [Internet]. 2021 [cited 2025 Jul 12];26(Suppl 2):3505-15. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-81232021269.2.23592019

23. Shibukawa BMC, Rissi GP, Higarashi IH, de Oliveira RR. Factors associated with the presence of cleft lip and / or cleft palate in Brazilian newborns. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2025 Jul 12];19(4):947-56. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-93042019000400012

Downloads

Published

2026-08-31

How to Cite

Mori, M. M., Piran, C. M. G., Cargnin, A. V. E., Martins, L. M., Marcon, S. S., & Furtado, M. D. (2026). Care for children with orofacial clefts and their families: perspectives of the multidisciplinary team. Cogitare Enfermagem, 31. Retrieved from https://revistas.ufpr.br/cogitare/article/view/102008

Issue

Vol. 31 (2026)

Section

Original Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Mariana Martire Mori, Camila Moraes Garollo Piran, Alana Vit´ória Escritori Cargnin, Laís Moreira Martins, Sonia Silva Marcon, Marcela Demitto Furtado

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Cogitare Enfermagem reserves the right to make normative, orthographic, and grammatical changes to the published article to maintain the cultured standard of the language, while respecting the authors' style.

The published study is the sole responsibility of the author(s), and Cogitare Enfermagem is exclusively responsible for evaluating the manuscript as a scientific publication vehicle. Revista Cogitare Enfermagem is not responsible for any violations of Law No. 9,610/1998, the Brazilian Copyright Law.

Cogitare Enfermagem allows the author to hold the copyright of articles accepted for publication, without restrictions.

The articles published are licensed under the Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons - Attribution 4.0 International - CC BY 4.0 - The attribution adopted by Cogitare Enfermagem is permitted:

  • Share - copy and redistribute the material in any media or format.
  • Adapt - remix, transform and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
  • Attribution - You must give proper credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes have been made. You may do this in any reasonable way, but not in a way that suggests that the licensor endorses it or approves of its use.
  • No additional restrictions - You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing something that the license allows.