Limitations in research as experienced by cleft care specialists working in Nigeria and the use of qualitative interviews for data collection in cleft lip and palate research

Abstract

Background: In the minimum standards for care of children with cleft of the lip and/or palate (CL/P), cleft teams are expected to undertake research as well as participate in multicenter audit. This cross sectional survey aimed at reporting the research experience of cleft specialists working in Nigeria Hospitals. Materials and Methods: The research question was to find out if cleft care teams in Nigeria conduct research as recommended by World Health Organization minimum standards of cleft care. To answer the research question, semi-structured interviews were conducted over the telephone with 40 cleft team coordinators working in Nigerian hospitals. The interviews covered questions on cleft teams' experience and knowledge with research in the field of CLP. Coordinators were also asked to give reasons why they were not conducting research. Results: The result revealed that majority ( n = 30; 75%) of the cleft teams in Nigeria do not conduct research and those cleft teams ( n = 10; 25%) that conduct research use quantitative research methods mainly. Reasons given for not conducting research were time constraint 14 (35%), inadequate sample size 14 (35%), lack of funding 8 (20%) and research in cleft not a priority 4 (10%). Conclusion: Findings of this study are informative and highlights shortcomings of CLP research in Nigeria.