Quality of Online Information Relating to Cleft Lip and Palate: A Scoping Review

Individuals with orofacial clefts experience a substantial lifetime burden of medical, surgical and dental care, often requiring complex treatment decisions. This scoping review aimed to collate and critically assess the available literature regarding the quality and readability of online cleft-related information. Four electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Embase via Ovid, Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus) were searched from inception to 17 June 2025. Eligible studies evaluated the quality or readability of cleft-related information on websites, social media platforms or YouTube. Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality assessment tools were used to evaluate accuracy, reliability and comprehensiveness, while readability instruments measured ease of understanding for lay audiences. Twenty-one of the 34 included studies (61.8%) reported low or inconsistent quality of cleft-related online information, with many websites and videos lacking reliability, completeness or readability appropriate for the general public. Online health information about orofacial clefts is abundant but frequently suboptimal in quality and readability. Families may be exposed to misleading or difficult-to-understand content, which could hinder informed decision-making. However, non-English language studies were under-represented in this review, which may limit the generalisability of findings. Clinicians and professional organisations should guide families towards trustworthy resources and develop accessible, high-quality online information. Improving the reliability and readability of cleft-related content has the potential to enhance patient education, shared decision-making and long-term treatment outcomes.