Gurprit Bhamrah1, Sofia Ahmad2, Sinead NiMhurchadha3. 1. Specialty registrar in orthodontics, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, West Sussex, United Kingdom, postgraduate student, King's College London, Dental Institute, London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: g.bhamrah@nhs.net. 2. Consultant orthodontist, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, West Sussex, United Kingdom, consultant orthodontist, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom, honorary senior specialist teacher, King's College London, Dental Institute, London, United Kingdom. 3. Research psychologist, Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, East Grinstead, West Sussex, United Kingdom.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Orthognathic patients appear to be increasingly using the Internet to obtain information about their proposed treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the information that orthognathic patients share and discuss with peers away from the clinical environment to improve the provision of information for orthognathic patients. METHODS: Posts made by persons in a large publicly accessible online orthognathic discussion forum were analyzed; 1912 randomly selected forum posts were evaluated using a qualitative analysis technique known as "thematic analysis" that involves coding the posts and collating them into meaningful and distinct themes. RESULTS: The main themes identified were (1) reasons for undergoing orthognathic treatment, (2) presurgery and postsurgery treatment stages including orthodontics, (3) surgery including postsurgical complications and difficulties, (4) expected and actual end of treatment changes, and (5) seeking and sharing information. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that orthognathic patients look to the Internet to supplement information regarding their proposed treatment. This may suggest a possible gap in the provision of information by health care professionals. However, it is clear that patients use Internet forums to seek additional information, support, and reassurance from peers undergoing similar treatment. Therefore, there is a need for clinicians to ensure that patients have access and are guided to appropriate and relevant Internet resources.
INTRODUCTION: Orthognathic patients appear to be increasingly using the Internet to obtain information about their proposed treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the information that orthognathic patients share and discuss with peers away from the clinical environment to improve the provision of information for orthognathic patients. METHODS: Posts made by persons in a large publicly accessible online orthognathic discussion forum were analyzed; 1912 randomly selected forum posts were evaluated using a qualitative analysis technique known as "thematic analysis" that involves coding the posts and collating them into meaningful and distinct themes. RESULTS: The main themes identified were (1) reasons for undergoing orthognathic treatment, (2) presurgery and postsurgery treatment stages including orthodontics, (3) surgery including postsurgical complications and difficulties, (4) expected and actual end of treatment changes, and (5) seeking and sharing information. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that orthognathic patients look to the Internet to supplement information regarding their proposed treatment. This may suggest a possible gap in the provision of information by health care professionals. However, it is clear that patients use Internet forums to seek additional information, support, and reassurance from peers undergoing similar treatment. Therefore, there is a need for clinicians to ensure that patients have access and are guided to appropriate and relevant Internet resources.