Description
The treatment of cleft lip and palate in Romania is considered to be inadequate compared to several other countries. The purpose of this project is to realize a transfer of the innovative treatment approach at the University of Oslo to the educational system at University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila Bucharest and further on to professionals involved in cleft lip and palate treatment in Romania. The aim is the implementation, for the first time in Romania, of protocols and strategies of diagnosis and treatment and follow- up standards in the educational structure of UMF “Carol Davila”, Bucharest. The project outputs are: Common elaboration of a guide of good practice; construction of an web-site; Improving the teaching process in UMF “Carol Davila” Bucharest in cleft lip and palate pathology; elaboration of an informative guide for the parents. The University of Oslo will provide their expertise in the multidisciplinary strategies of cleft lip and palate treatment and to help implementing it in Romania.
Summary of project results
In Romania, approximately 350 - 400 babies are born with with cleft lip and/or palate diseases each year. The objectives of the project were to understand and learn the multidisciplinary approach of cleft lip and palate treatment and the protocols of good practice from the members of the Cleft Team of University of Oslo, to understand and learn the skills of the Norwegian follow-up strategies of the cleft patients, to elaborate and to implement the management strategies of lip and palate malformations in Bucharest and in the main centers in Romania. The planned objectives were fulfilled; the project has led to a major improvement in Romanian parents' information regarding treatment of cleft lip and palate diseases as well as significant improvement in the medical treatment of these conditions. A total of 17 researchers went on exchange trips between the University of Oslo and the UMF Carol Davila. As a result of the project and the fulfilled objectives, the abandonment rate has diminished and the social isolation generally observed of children with cleft lip and palate diseases is also reduced, particularly among low-income families and in the Roma community. The learning outcomes are: innovative knowledge for cleft surgeons, speech therapists, orthodontists, dentists, ENT doctors, psychologists, students, nurses regarding multidisciplinary treatment and follow-up protocols in cleft lip and palate. The Bucharest conference participants – members of UMF Carol Davila, as well as of other Romanian universities, together with other professionals involved in cleft care - will pass on the knowledge received from the Oslo team, adapted to our national condition and, by this way, the provided guide for professionals will be a good tool in order to achieve these goals.
Summary of bilateral results
The partnership functioned as well as expected in achieving all of its goals: the organization of high level scientific meetings, creation of booklet for parents, guide for professionals, the transfer of educational and scientific expertise from both countries involved. The project partner assured both theoretical and practical activities in Oslo seminar as in: live surgery, presentations, consultations, evaluation etc. The donor partners from the University of Oslo were able to demonstrate their high professional expertise in cleft care and exchange best practices with the project partners in Romania. The visibility and the high quality conference in Bucharest determined a wider participation of specialists from other countries.