How do patients perceive the British orthodontic society online information resource about orthognathic treatment? A qualitative study

Oral health-related quality of life before, during, and after orthodontic-orthognathic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

The effect of combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment was estimated, specifically the impact of pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, on oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research question was formulated using the PICO method. The search was carried out in MEDLINE via PubMed, CINAHL, psychINFO, Embase, and Cochrane (until February 3, 2020). Inclusion criteria were patients aged ≥ 17 years who underwent combined orthodontic-surgical treatment, quality of life assessment, and study design of randomized controlled trial, controlled clinical trial, prospective cohort study, observational study, intervention study, or cross-sectional study. The ROBINS-1 tool was used to assess the risk of bias within studies. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted when appropriate. The quality of evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

Six studies were analyzed. The OHIP-14 and/or OQLQ-22 questionnaires were used to measure the OHRQoL. All six studies had a serious risk of bias. Two studies (87 participants) were included in a meta-analysis showing improvement of OHRQoL when comparing before and after treatment were compared (mean 14.85 scale points, 95% confidence interval 10.36;19.35).

CONCLUSIONS

Studies indicate a decrease in OHRQoL during the pre-surgical orthodontic treatment phase but improvement after orthodontic-orthognathic treatment. Data substantiating these results are limited, and the quality of evidence is low. Further research is needed to assess the impact of pre-surgical orthodontic treatment on the OHRQoL in an orthognathic trajectory.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Patients should be well informed about the effect facial/esthetic changes may have on their OHRQoL during sequential phases of orthodontic-orthognathic treatment.

The reach, influence and tenor of professional orthodontic societies on social media: A cross-sectional content analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Orthodontic societies should support the profession and improve patient awareness. We aimed to investigate the scope and influence of orthodontic societies on social media.

METHOD

A total of 120 orthodontic societies were identified on the World Federation of Orthodontists (WFO) affiliates list. Presence of orthodontic societies on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter was ascertained. All societies with Instagram accounts were included for further analysis of the nature and content of posts as well as user engagement. Pilot coding and thematic analysis were undertaken (n=200 posts). The most recent 20% of the total number of posts for each account were then analysed for content.

RESULTS

Only 10 (8.3%), 34 (28.3%) and 52 (43.3%) orthodontic societies had accounts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, respectively. A total of 2124 Instagram posts were analysed. On average, 318 posts were identified per account (range=1 to 1901). The average number of followers was 2337 (range=85 to 11,400) with average user engagement of 1.25% (range=0.0%-7.17%). A total of 6 themes (subthemes; n=28) were identified including "announcements on professional events" (51.6%), "patient education, enlightenment and commendation" (26%), "running and operation of the society" (9.1%), "highlighting research and evidence" (3.1%), "COVID-related advice and updates" (4%) and "observance and commemoration" (10.4%). The posts targeting patients were limited (18.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The limited reach of the accounts of international orthodontic societies highlights the need to develop a more effective and influential social media presence. Orthodontic societies should involve members, providers and patients in developing more effective social media resources.

Decision Making from the Experience of Orthognathic Surgery Patients: A Grounded Theory Approach

Introduction:

Patients’ decisions to undergo major surgery such as orthognathic treatment are not just about how the decision is made but what influences the decision.

Objectives:

The primary objective of the study was to identify the key processes involved in patients’ experience of decision making for orthognathic treatment.

Methods:

This study reports some of the findings of a larger grounded theory study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews of patients who were seen for orthognathic treatment at a teaching hospital in the United Kingdom. Twenty-two participants were recruited (age range 18–66 y), of whom 12 (male = 2, female = 10) were 6 to 8 wk postsurgery, 6 (male = 2, female = 4) were in the decision-making stage, and 4 (male = 0, female = 4) were 1 to 2 y postsurgery. Additional data were also collected from online blogs and forums on jaw surgery. The data analysis stages of grounded theory methodology were undertaken, including open and selective coding.

Results:

The study identified the central role of dental care professionals (DCPs) in several underlying processes associated with decision making, including legitimating, mediating, scheduling, projecting, and supporting patients’ decisions. Six categories were related to key aspects of decision making. These were awareness about their underlying dentofacial problems and treatment options available, the information available about the treatment, the temporality of when surgery would be undertaken, the motivations and expectation of patients, social support, and fear of the surgery, hospitalization, and potentially disliking their new face.

Conclusion:

The decision-making process for orthognathic treatment is complex, multifactorial, and heavily influenced by the role of DCPs in patient care. Understanding the magnitude of this role will enable DCPs to more clearly participate in improving patients’ decision-making process. The findings of this study can inform future quantitative studies.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

The results of this study can be used both for informing clinical practice around enabling decision making for orthognathic treatment and also for designing future research. The findings can better inform clinicians about the importance of their role in the patients’ decision-making process for orthognathic treatment and the means to improve the patient experience. It is suggested that further research could be conducted to measure some of the key constructs identified within our grounded theory and assess how these change during the treatment process.

The Sheldon Friel Memorial Lecture 2020 It's not just about the teeth: Patient-centred Orthodontics

The provision of high-quality health care involves many different aspects, including safety, effectiveness, efficiency, and patient centredness. In order for care to be truly patient centred requires patients' views being sought and considered, and this may be achieved through patient-centred research. Patient-centred research is fundamentally important in contemporary health care and has many benefits; for example, it ensures that research is relevant, identifies those aspects of care that are important to patients, provides information that is important to current and future patients, and allows the integration of patients' views regarding how services may be enhanced in the future. This paper provides an overview of how we currently involve patients in orthodontic research, what this means to the specialty and how we can enhance patient involvement in the future.

Patient information - is it ever enough? A prospective audit of information provision for orthognathic treatment at the Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH), East Grinstead

Appropriate patient information is essential to improving patient experience. This prospective audit looked at compliance with the Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH) orthognathic information patient protocol and patient opinion regarding information provision. A total of 77 patients participated, with 75 reporting that they received sufficient information to make an informed decision. Prior to attending the MDT, 69 patients had read the information leaflet, although only 37 had accessed the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) online resource. Despite a general trend in the use of online resources, patients do not necessarily choose to access information online. During the development of electronic information resources, we need to explore how to utilise new technology to continue improving patient experience during the consent process.

Patients' narratives of orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry: a qualitative study

To explore patients' experiences of orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry and their adaptation to facial changes after surgery, we did a qualitative, cross-sectional study of patients after treatment for non-cleft asymmetry at two UK sites. A total of 15 patients aged 19-40 years were approached after being identified using patient databases and clinical notes. Individual and photo-elicitation interviews were conducted covering experiences prior to treatment, during treatment, and after surgery. Interviews were transcribed and thematic narrative analysis undertaken. Participants were largely positive about their orthognathic treatment. The following themes were identified: preoperative (becoming aware, negative impacts of asymmetry, committing to treatment, establishing expectations), pre-surgery orthodontics and inpatient experiences (challenges and coping strategies, preparedness, support, and shared experiences); and postoperative (surgery as 'worth it', positive impacts of treatment, adapting to facial change). Undergoing orthognathic surgery was portrayed as a journey involving recognisable narratives (treatment unfinished, threat of liminality, treatment as resolution, and treatment as transformation). Patients' experiences of facial asymmetry are associated with feeling 'abnormal', and negative impacts, and orthognathic treatment for facial asymmetry is worthwhile. Having the feeling that something is 'wrong' legitimised by clinicians allows patients access to a recognisable treatment narrative (resolution). Orthognathic treatment is also described as transformation from 'normal abnormality' to being 'normal'. Nevertheless, the associated challenges can be frustrating, particularly if resolution is hard to envisage. Further psychological input could help patients cope with these challenges and the complex process of adapting to facial change.

Development of 'My Retainers' mobile application: Triangulation of two qualitative methods

OBJECTIVE

Diligent wear of removable orthodontic retainers requires prolonged adherence and is invariably necessary to preserve optimal results. Patient-informed behaviour-change interventions represent a promising and novel means of enhancing adherence to removable retainer wear. The aim of this study was to describe the development of a patient-informed mobile application designed to enhance retainer wear.

METHODS

App development encompassed consideration of participant preferences, social media posts, available interventions and behaviour change theories. Qualitative methods including analysis of publicly-available retainer-related posts on Twitter (n = 827) and one-to-one interviews were undertaken. Audio-recorded one-to-one interviews were undertaken to identify patient preferences in relation to features, content and design of the application. A criterion-based purposive sample of participants wearing vacuum-formed retainers for at least 4 years was used (n = 15). Thematic analysis of transcribed data was undertaken. These data were triangulated to inform design and content of the application.

RESULTS

The need to facilitate communication with the treating clinician, responsive reminder and tracking systems, and access to useful and engaging written and visual information, in addition to other personalised and interactive features were considered important. Concerns related to retainer wear shared on Twitter informed an exhaustive list of frequently-asked questions. Application features were mapped to relevant theoretical constructs. Determinants of existing behavioural change theories were also used to link application features to retainer wear and maintenance.

CONCLUSIONS

A holistic process involving both patient and professional input can be useful in informing the development of mobile applications. The orthodontic application ("My Retainers") will undergo further scrutiny in relation to its effectiveness in inducing behavioural change and concerning patient experiences prior to finalisation.