title: Treatment Seeking and Self-Constructed Explanations of Pain and Pain Management Strategies Among Adolescents with Temporomandibular Disorder Pain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore adolescents' explanations of their temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain, their pain management strategies for TMD pain, and their treatment-seeking behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  One-on-one interviews were conducted with 21 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years who had TMD pain and followed a semistructured interview guide. Subjects were strategically selected from patients referred to an orofacial pain clinic. All participants had been examined and received a pain diagnosis based on the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD. The interviews focused on the adolescents' experiences of TMD pain, their strategies for handling pain, and how they seek care. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using qualitative manifest content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative manifest content analysis revealed two categories: (1) self-constructed explanations, with three subcategories (situation-based explanatory model, physical/biologic model, and psychological explanatory model); and (2) pain management strategies, with four subcategories (social support, treatment, relaxation/rest, and psychological strategies). Adolescents used physical activities and psychological and pharmacologic treatment to manage pain. Reasons for seeking treatment were to be cured, to obtain an explanation for their pain, and because their symptoms bother others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adolescents living with TMD pain develop self-constructed explanations and pain management strategies. With access to these descriptions, dentists can be better prepared to have a dialogue with their adolescent patients about their own explanations of pain, the nature of pain, and in which situations the pain appears. Dentists can also explore adolescent patients' pain management strategies and perhaps also suggest new treatment strategies at an earlier stage.
authors.forename: Ing-Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Nilsson
authors.forename: Ania
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Willman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D004204:Joint Dislocations / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012063:Relaxation / Q000523:psychology; D012648:Self Care; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult