Caregiver Experiences With Infant PLANA Therapy for Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate caregiver experiences with presurgical lip, alveolus, and nose approximation (PLANA) therapy, including adherence, burden, support, and perceived effectiveness in infants with cleft lip and/or palate. Design: Cross-sectional survey study using an anonymous, voluntary questionnaire administered via Research Electronic Data Capture. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize responses, and qualitative responses were analyzed for common themes. Setting: Single tertiary care academic institution. Patients, Participants: Caregivers of infants with cleft lip and/or palate undergoing PLANA therapy were identified through institutional records. Of 48 eligible caregivers, 23 unique responses were included. Interventions: PLANA therapy utilizing the NoseAlign device with concurrent lip taping, applied at home with periodic clinical follow-up. Main Outcome Measure(s): Caregiver-reported adherence, training satisfaction, infant tolerance, caregiver burden, perceived support, and perceived effectiveness. Results: Caregivers reported high satisfaction with training (73.9% very satisfied) and high adherence, with 87.0% reporting consistent use and 100% reporting daily wear. Most reported no feeding interference (86.4%) and good infant tolerance (73.9% comfortable or very comfortable). Caregiver burden was low, with 60.9% reporting minimal impact on daily routines and 78.3% reporting confidence in application. Perceived support from the medical team was uniformly high (100%). Overall, 90.9% were satisfied with outcomes, and 95.7% would recommend PLANA therapy. Conclusions: PLANA therapy demonstrates high caregiver satisfaction, strong adherence, and favorable perceived outcomes. Its simplified design may reduce caregiver burden while maintaining effectiveness. Further studies are needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and cost-effectiveness.