Abstract
【Introduction】 In recent years, the importance of children’s point of view in understanding diseases and providing treatment in everyday life has been recognized. It is necessary that children with cleft lip and/or plate are understood, because these diseases are highly prevalent among diseases in children, cause visible transformation and require long-term treatment. Especially, adolescent patients are at risk of lowered self-esteem when they undergo cleft lip revision.
【Objects】 This study aimed to clarify the attitudes of adolescent patients with cleft lip and/or palate and treatment, and to provide suggestions for appropriate support.
【Methods】 Semi-structured interviews were held with nine adolescent patients with cleft lip and/or palate. The results were analyzed qualitatively. Based on verbatim interview transcripts, each sentence that was considered to be meaningful pertaining to the cleft lip and/or palate and treatment was labeled using a code, then subcategories and categories were generated.
【Results】 Negative attitudes expressed were: “I cannot recognize my cleft lip and/or palate treatment as my own problem”, “I cannot avoid being treated”, and “I have to adapt to limits and changes associated with treatments”. Positive attitudes expressed were: “I think that oneself with cleft lip and/or palate is oneself”, “I will receive treatment for myself”, “I want to understand cleft lip and/or palate”, and “I use the treatment as an excuse to skip school”. Adolescent patients formed their opinions on cleft lip and/or palate and treatment while being influenced by evaluations from people other than themselves.
【Conclusion】 The results suggested that adolescent patients were in the process of discovering the significance of their birth and life with cleft lip and/or palate. They had both negative and positive attitudes toward their cleft lip and/or palate and treatment. The negative expressions were associated with the absence of their treatment decision-making process; for instance, some patients felt happy with their preoperative appearance, but underwent corrective surgery because of recommendations from their parents and doctors. It is important to consider negative attitudes of adolescent patients with cleft lip and/or palate while medical staff support them through their decision-making process.
