To explore adolescents' explanations of their temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain, their pain management strategies for TMD pain, and their treatment seeking behavior.
Temporomandibular
disorder pain is associated with pain caused due to the injured or damaged joint
that connects the jaw to the skull. The different pain management strategies
have been efficiently depicted in this study.
To explore
adolescents' explanations of their temporomandibular disorder (TMD) pain, their
pain management strategies for TMD pain, and their treatment seeking behavior.
One-on-one
interviews were conducted with 21 adolescents aged 15 to 19 years who had TMD
pain and followed a semi structured 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.
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.
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.
J Oral Facial Pain Headache. 2016 Spring;30(2):127-33
Treatment seeking and self-constructed explanations of pain and pain management strategies among adolescents with temporomandibular disorder pain
Ing-Marie Nilsson et al.
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