Do patient information leaflets affect patients' expectation of orthodontic treatment? A randomized controlled trial

To determine the impact that information leaflets have on patient expectations of orthodontic treatment.

A prospective, randomized controlled study.

The Orthodontic Department at Queen Mary's Sidcup, South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Eighty adolescents, aged 12-14 years,attending their first orthodontic consultation appointment.

PARTICIPANTS completed a previously validated questionnaire about their expectations of orthodontic before the consultation.They were then randomly assigned to two groups. The control group (n = 40)received additional written information about fluoride, while the intervention group (n = 40) received additional written information about orthodontic treatment. Both groups then had their orthodontic consultation following which they completed the expectation questionnaire for a second time.

The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions.Eight questions used a 10 mm VAS response code. Two questions had categorical response codes. ANCOVA was undertaken using post-consultation scores as the outcome and pre-consultation scores as the covariant. Chi-squared tests were undertaken to assess the categorical variables.

All 80 participants recruited to the trial completed the questionnaire on two occasions. No significant differences between the control group and the intervention in their expectations of orthodontic treatment were found, except for one item related to the expectation of a discussion about treatment at the initial appointment (P = 0·04).

Information leaflets did not have an immediate impact on patients' expectations of orthodontic treatment. The cost implication of providing information leaflets to patients must be weighed against the limited benefit they provide.