Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) for management of cleft lip-palate care at the Tawanchai Cleft Center.

OBJECTIVE To use a Geographic Information System (GIS) approach to study the distribution and statistics of patients with cleft lip/palate in Thailand's Northeast region who get treatment at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. MATERIAL AND METHOD Using a GIS approach, the researchers reviewed every case with cleft lip/palate treated at Srinagarind Hospital between 1984 and 2007 to study the distribution of cleft lip/palate in Northeast Thailand. RESULTS Of the 1,950 patients, there were more male patients (56.3%) with cleft lip/palate than females (43.7%). One-third (31.8%) of the patients had cleft lip only, while 22.5% had cleft palate only and 45.7% had both cleft lip and cleft palate. Most of the patients (55.1%) lived in Khon Kaen, 24.9% in Mahasarakam and 16.9% in Kalasin provinces. Since 2002, more patients have had surgical treatment at the ages and intervals recommended by our centre's protocol. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Most of the patients who have got treatment at The Tawanchai Center lived in central and northern Northeast Thailand: most lived in Khon Kaen province. More of the patients tended to get surgery on time, according to the establishment of The Tawanchai Center's interdisciplinary protocol for cleft lip and cleft palate care; however some were still getting the surgery late. The GIS data was very useful for the Cleft Center for planning outreach, community-based interdisciplinary treatment, referrals, preparing a schedule for follow-up and follow-on treatments; thus, improving care for the patients with cleft lip/palate.