Key Points
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Details the importance of a thorough comprehensive consultation for chronic facial pain patients.
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Highlights the factors that determine overall patient satisfaction with treatment for various facial pain conditions.
Abstract
Objective The aim of this audit was to investigate complex chronic facial pain patients' satisfaction after an initial, comprehensive, 45-60 minute consultation visit.
Design Prospective audit using a post-visit satisfaction survey.
Setting Specialised outpatient facial pain unit.
Methods A convenience sample of 50 consecutive new patients were recruited. History, pain and psychosocial functioning were assessed through standard, validated pre-visit questionnaires. A post-visit satisfaction questionnaire was sent (twice if necessary) to patients by mail, and non-responders were contacted by telephone.
Main outcome measures Patients' satisfaction scores on pain management processes were evaluated.
Results Response rate for the questionnaire was 63% (32/50) and 12 additional patients who did not respond to the questionnaire replied by telephone. Among questionnaire respondents, mean overall patient satisfaction was 8.1 ± 2.2 on an 11-point scale (best score 10), with no differences based on age, gender, diagnosis, length of symptoms and treatment. There was a trend of higher overall satisfaction among patients referred by dentists and specialists. Patients who had seen at least one specialist before their visit reported higher scores in understanding the reasons for their condition and what to do to treat their condition.
Conclusions A consultation with adequate time for history taking, addressing patients' goals and thorough explanation accompanied by written information, results in high satisfaction among patients with chronic facial pain.
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Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank William VanDeByl for his help in setting up the audit, and the secretaries in the facial pain unit for helping in collecting the data. Professor Zakrzewska undertook this work at University College London (UCL)/UCL Hospitals Trust, who received a proportion of funding from the Department of Health's National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre funding scheme. We are also grateful for the very comprehensive comments of one of the reviewers.
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Napeñas, J., Nussbaum, M., Eghtessad, M. et al. Patients' satisfaction after a comprehensive assessment for complex chronic facial pain at a specialised unit: results from a prospective audit. Br Dent J 211, E24 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.1054
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2011.1054
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