The VELO Questionnaire as a Surgical Outcome Evaluation Tool for Cleft Palate Surgery in a Limited Resource Setting in Indonesia

Background: Evaluation of surgical outcomes after cleft palate surgeries is important; however, surgeons face challenges in directly examining patients because of geographical limitations and the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Material and Methods: This research uses a cohort study design. Respondents were patients with a cleft palate or the patient's parents, obtained from the screening results of our local hospital charity's clinical mission in Indonesia between 2018 and 2022. Respondents were interviewed using the VELO questionnaire twice, preoperative and 6 months postoperative. Twenty-three respondents with a cleft palate who underwent primary palatoplasty were divided into two groups: (1) patients aged 3–8 years were represented by parents in filling out the VELO-Parent, and (2) patients aged above 8 years were filling out the VELO-Youth on their own. Results: The validity and reliability scores analyzed were categorized as excellent. There was an increase in the VELO scores between pre- and postoperative in both groups (p<.05). The VELO scores also significantly changed postoperatively in patients with three different cleft palate types. Conclusions: The translated VELO questionnaire was valid and reliable to use. The VELO questionnaire is practical to use as an evaluation tool of the surgical outcome of palatoplasty in Indonesia.