Randomized clinical trials in periodontology: focus on outcomes selection

Perceptions, Attitudes and Needs of Periodontitis Patients: A Qualitative Systematic Review

AIM

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) hold significant potential in guiding clinical decision making, yet their utilization in periodontal trials has been limited. This systematic review aimed to critically synthesize and analyse qualitative studies that evaluated the knowledge and impact of periodontitis and its treatment on patients' lives, as well as their motivations, expectations and experiences in seeking treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Six databases were searched up to March 2024 for qualitative studies on periodontitis patients. Studies were quality-assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal and ConQual tools. Two authors independently extracted the findings, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies from 2006 to 2023 across four continents, involving 215 participants, identified five themes related to periodontitis: (i) knowledge about periodontitis and its treatment; (ii) impact of periodontitis on patients' lives; (iii) motivation and treatment expectations; (iv) obstacles to treatment; and (v) treatment impact on patients' lives.

CONCLUSION

Significant physical and psychosocial impacts of periodontitis on patients' lives were identified, along with critical gaps in knowledge and awareness, emphasizing the important role of dentists in patient education. Specific PROs for use in validated instruments tailored to periodontitis were identified. These results can enhance patient-centred care by guiding future studies in accurately assessing patient perspectives on their condition and treatment.

The interaction between gut microbiome and bone health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review critically examines interconnected health domains like gut microbiome, bone health, interleukins, chronic periodontitis, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), offering insights into fundamental mechanisms and clinical implications, contributing significantly to healthcare and biomedical research.

RECENT FINDINGS

This review explores the relationship between gut microbiome and bone health, a growing area of study. It provides insights into skeletal integrity and potential therapeutic avenues. The review also examines interleukins, chronic periodontitis, and COVID-19, highlighting the complexity of viral susceptibility and immune responses. It highlights the importance of understanding genetic predispositions and immune dynamics in the context of disease outcomes. The review emphasizes experimental evidence and therapeutic strategies, aligning with evidence-based medicine and personalized interventions. This approach offers actionable insights for healthcare practitioners and researchers, paving the way for targeted therapeutic approaches and improved patient outcomes.

SUMMARY

The implications of these findings for clinical practice and research underscore the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare that considers the complex interactions between genetics, immune responses, oral health, and systemic diseases. By leveraging advances in biomedical research, clinicians can optimize patient care and improve health outcomes across diverse patient populations.

Selective outcome reporting bias is highly prevalent in randomized clinical trials of nonsurgical periodontal therapy

Selective outcome reporting (SOR) is a type of bias that can compromise the validity of results and affect evidence-based practice. SOR can overestimate the effect of an intervention and lead to conclusions that a treatment is effective when it is not. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SOR in publications of RCTs on nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT) and to verify associated factors. The protocols were searched and selected on the www.clinicaltrials.gov platform up to January 16, 2022. Corresponding publications were identified, and data extraction and discrepancy analysis were performed. The risk of bias was assessed according to the RoB2 tool. One hundred forty-five studies (174 publications) were included. The prevalence of SOR was 49.7% and was unclear in nearly one third of studies (27.6%). Only 31.7% of the primary outcomes were completely described in the publications. The overall risk of bias was high in 60% of the included studies. SOR was associated with statistical significance (p < .001), and multiple publications of the same study (p = .005). Our study demonstrated the high prevalence of SOR, highlighting the need to improve the quality of reporting of RCTs on NSPT studies.