Optimizing Perioperative Rehabilitation and Nursing for Children With Cleft Lip and Palate: An OMRU Model Approach

This retrospective study evaluated the impact of an accelerated perioperative rehabilitation protocol guided by the Ottawa Model of Research Use (OMRU) on children with cleft lip and palate. Eighty-six children treated between January and September 2024 were randomly assigned to either a control group receiving conventional care or an observation group receiving OMRU-based rehabilitation with continuous quality improvement. All underwent surgery performed by experienced clinicians, and outcomes were assessed 3 months postoperatively. The observation group showed significantly greater improvements in speech intelligibility, with fewer low-grade cases and more high-grade clarity (P<0.05), as well as better psychological well-being, measured using validated scales and caregiver proxy reports for younger children (P<0.05). In addition, they experienced fewer postoperative complications such as pharyngeal edema and aspiration (P<0.05). These findings suggest that the OMRU-guided protocol enhances recovery by integrating evidence-based nursing care, family involvement, and iterative refinement, offering a scalable model for multidisciplinary cleft care that improves both short- and long-term outcomes.