The influence of a structured telephone call on orthodontic pain and anxiety.
BACKGROUND
This purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a structured telephone call after orthodontic appliance placement on self-reported pain and anxiety.


METHODS
One hundred-fifty orthodontic patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups and matched for age, sex, and ethnicity. The subjects completed baseline questionnaires to assess their levels of pain (on a 100-mm visual analog scale) and anxiety (Spielberger's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) before orthodontic treatment. After the initial archwires were placed, all subjects completed the pain questionnaire and state-anxiety inventory at the same time daily for 1 week. One group also received a structured telephone call demonstrating care and reassurance; the second group received an attention-only telephone call, thanking them for participating in the study; the third group served as a control.


RESULTS
Although both telephone groups reported significantly less pain (P = .005) and state-anxiety (P = .033) than the control group, there was no difference between the 2 telephone groups (P > .12 for pain; P > .81 for state-anxiety).


CONCLUSIONS
A telephone call from a health-care provider reduced patients' self-reported pain and anxiety; the content of the telephone call was not important.
Bartlett
Brian W
BW
Section of Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43218-2357, USA.
Firestone
Allen R
AR
Vig
Katherine W L
KW
Beck
F Michael
FM
Marucha
Phillip T
PT
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone