A National Survey for Korean Orthodontic Residents about a Present Condition in Management and Training Program for Cleft and Craniofacial Patients

구순구개열 및 두개안면기형 환자의 진료 및 교육현황에 관하여 치과교정과 전공의를 대상으로 한 기초설문 조사 결과

A national wide survey was conducted to assess a present condition in management of cleft and craniofacial anomaly patients and training program of orthodontic residents in Korea. A questionnaire consisting of four categories and 19 question items was distributed to 131 residents of department of orthodontics of eleven dental university hospitals and nine medical university hospitals. The results were as follows:(1) 77.1% of residents are participating in treatment of cleft and craniofacial anomaly patients.(2) Only 47.3% of residents are willing to treat cleft and craniofacial anomaly patients in their future practice.(3) 64.9% of residents responded that they are currently treating one to ten cleft and craniofacial anomaly patients per resident.(4) Most university hospitals offer training programs focusing on embryopathogenesis, growth, and treatment, but training programs about speech and hearing, genetics, and psychosocial development are inadequate.(5) 37.4% of residents are willing to participate in fellowship program for cleft and craniofacial anomaly after finishing the training. Based on the results of this survey, the residents need motivation regarding treatment of cleft and craniofacial anomaly patients, and the educational programs need to be reinforced and reconstructed so that standardization among hospitals can be achieved.