title: Management of vascular lesions of the mouth and lips using a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser: review of patient satisfaction.
abstract: We reviewed patient satisfaction with the management of oral vascular lesions using a potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) laser. Questionnaires consisting of 10 questions were given to 95 patients who had had laser treatment for oral vascular lesions between September 2007 and July 2009. A five-point scale ranging from poor (1) to very good (5) was used for the responses. Seventy-one percent of patients responded. Overall, they were very satisfied with the process of laser treatment (mean score more than 4.5/5), but were less satisfied with the levels of comfort 24h after the procedure (mean score 3.7/5), and after one week (mean score 4.2/5). As postoperative discomfort was highlighted as an area of dissatisfaction for some patients, modifications to aftercare instructions may improve this aspect of the service.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial and Oral Surgery, Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, NP202UB, United Kingdom. timemjones@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Llewelyn
mesh_terms: D000359:Aftercare; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008046:Lip / Q000098:blood supply; D008047:Lip Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D009055:Mouth / Q000098:blood supply; D009059:Mouth Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery