Theme: innovation / education
Introduction
Plastic, ENT and maxillofacial surgery receive little coverage in the UK medical school curriculum, and as a result, craniofacial conditions such as cleft lip and palate are poorly understood by junior trainees. Many trainees are aware of the role of plastic and maxillofacial surgeons in cleft care, however the role of the otolaryngologist is less often considered. This study aims to assess the understanding of medical students and foundation doctors into the roles of the different surgical specialties within the cleft multidisciplinary team (MDT) with a focus on the role of ENT surgeons.
Methods
An anonymous cross-sectional mixed methods study was conducted with a survey distributed amongst medical students and foundation doctors. Questions focused on exposure to cleft care and understanding of the otolaryngologist's role within the cleft MDT. Responses were analysed using descriptive statistics.
Results
Preliminary results show a poor understanding of the role of ENT surgeons within the cleft MDT compared to plastic and maxillofacial surgeons. Data analysis to determine contributing factors and assess patterns of response remain in progress.
Conclusion
This study has highlighted the need for accessible educational resources to explain the individual roles within the cleft MDT, how they interact, and their impact on patient care. Understanding these results will allow us to determine the most appropriate intervention to rectify any knowledge gaps and produce this from within the CLEFT charity’s Trainee Section. The integration of cleft care into ENT speciality training is an important future consideration.