Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Sainsbury, Peter Hodgkinson
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
© 2021, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association.Background: Although the United Kingdom (UK) cleft surgeons follow a similar training pathway, and cleft centers adhere to similar protocols regarding the timing of palate surgery and surgical technique, speech outcomes still vary between centers. Objective: To explore the training experiences of consultant cleft lip and palate (CL/P) surgeons, performing a Sommerlad radical intravelar veloplasty (IVVP) and their approach to teaching others. Design: An exploratory, qualitative approach was adopted to understand the views of UK cleft surgeons performing a Sommerlad radical IVVP and discuss what was important during training and upon qualifying as a consultant. Method: A semi-structured interview schedule was designed, interviews were conducted in-person or via videoconferencing, depending on preference and availability, with interested surgeons. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and checked for accuracy. Analysis involved inductive thematic analysis. Results: Fourteen cleft consultants from the UK participated (3F:11M). Seven of the consultants were trained in plastic surgery and four in maxillofacial surgery. Seven themes were identified from the thematic analysis. Three themes, namely Learning to perform palate repair, Teaching others to perform palate repair, and Ongoing learning as a consultant are discussed. Conclusions: Cleft palate repair is clearly a technically challenging procedure to learn and teach with the potential to cause harm if performed incorrectly. Positive changes have been made to improve exposure to palate surgery, encourage practice away from the patient, and increase supervised practical experience. The role of colleagues in providing mentorship and support appears invaluable. We provide some simple recommendations that may improve the training experience and ensure parity for all trainees.
Author(s): Butterworth S, Hodgkinson EL, Stock NM, Sainsbury DCG, Hodgkinson PD
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal
Year: 2023
Volume: 60
Issue: 2
Pages: 197-210
Print publication date: 01/02/2023
Online publication date: 17/11/2021
Acceptance date: 02/04/2020
ISSN (print): 1055-6656
ISSN (electronic): 1545-1569
Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
URL: https://doi.org/10.1177/10556656211058443
DOI: 10.1177/10556656211058443
PubMed id: 34786999
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
