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Patient–Provider Communication During Consultations for Elective Dental Procedures
abstract
This abstract is available on the publisher's site.
Access this abstract now Full Text Available for ClinicalKey SubscribersINTRODUCTION
Patient-provider communication (PPC) is a critical component of patient-centered care. Original studies have examined specific factors related to PPC during consultations for elective dental procedures, but this evidence has yet to be comprehensively summarized. This scoping review aimed to understand better the extent and depth of the available literature regarding factors that influence PPC during consultations for elective dental procedures.
METHODS
The authors considered electronically available, English-language, original research published since 1990 assessing communication during consultations for elective dental procedures. Four electronic databases, Google Scholar, and reference lists of inclusions were searched until August 2023. No quality assessment was completed. Two independent researchers assessed article eligibility. Data were charted with a narrative review approach.
RESULTS
A total of 37 studies were included. The most popular discipline studied was orthodontics. Prospective cohorts and cross-sectional were the most common study designs. Information recall, patient satisfaction, and patient comprehension were the most common outcome measures. Most studies employed questionnaires, surveys, or interviews for data collection. Nineteen factors related to PPC during elective dental consultations were identified and categorized into information delivery (4), patient-related (9), and provider-related factors (6).
CONCLUSIONS
This scoping review is the first to present a list of evidence-supported factors related to PPC in elective dental consultations. Identifying these factors is an important first step to better understanding their influence on PPC and designing interventions targeting those that may be modifiable. PPC during elective dental consultations is a dynamic, ongoing process. Several recommendations emerged that may help improve PPC, including appropriate information delivery, patient engagement, providing adequate time, and educating ourselves on approaches to PPC.
Additional Info
Patient-provider communication during consultations for elective dental procedures: A scoping review
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2024 Aug 21;[EPub Ahead of Print], C Pilgrim, R Catunda, P Major, A Perez-Garcia, C Flores-MirFrom MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Patient–provider communication (PPC) is a key component of oral health care. This includes information gathering during assessments, explaining treatment plans and procedures, and obtaining consent to treat. PPC also includes building rapport with the patient, displaying empathy and respect, and making the patient feel comfortable. It has been shown that, when PPC is done well, it increases patient satisfaction, understanding, and compliance. When PPC is done poorly, it can result in dental anxiety, avoidance, and even litigation.
This scoping review aimed to examine the literature to identify what factors influence PPC in regard to elective dental procedures, including orthodontics and third molar extraction. Articles from 1990 to the present that were available electronically were included in this review. The most common outcomes reported in the literature were recall of the information provided by the clinician, patient comprehension of the information and/or treatment, and patient satisfaction. The factors related to PPC were information delivery and patient-centered factors (perception of information, family support, oral health literacy, and culture/ethnicity). Interestingly, provider-related factors were mostly seen to have a negative impact on PPC. These included a lack of autonomy for patients in the decision-making process, institutional barriers, and information delivery. Institutional barriers were significant, including too little time in consultation appointments, the inability to include all care team members, loss of patient decision–making autonomy owing to referral systems, and too little time for patients to make a treatment decision. Providers were found to have a positive impact on PPC by offering a second consultation to support decision-making and having a positive, supportive, and patient-centric attitude.
Overall, PPC was found to influence patient compliance and satisfaction in a positive or negative direction. Providing patients with adequate information and time to make treatment decisions, including patient preferences and individual situations in treatment decisions, and comprehensive team care can result in better compliance and satisfaction in elective dental treatment.