The influence of video imaging on patients' perceptions and expectations

Seventy-four patients, ranging in age from 15 to 50 and presenting with a moderate to severe dentofacial deformity requiring orthognathic surgery, were randomly assigned to a video imaging or a standard case presentation (CP) group. Motives for treatment did not differ significantly between the video image and standard CP groups. Two weeks after the case presentation, 60% of the standard CP group and 74% of the video image group ranked the anticipated change in facial appearance as an important factor in making a treatment decision. Seventy percent of the standard CP group and 83% of the video image group agreed with the statement that surgery would be necessary to correct their problem. In the standard CP group, 47% of the patients ranked dental casts as the most helpful physical record in making a treatment decision, and 46% said the acetate profile tracing was the most helpful tool for understanding what to expect from treatment. In the video imaging group, 42% of the patients said the video imaging presentation was the most helpful tool in making a treatment decision, and 39% of the patients said it was the most helpful tool for understanding treatment expectations. The proportion of patients in the video image case presentation group with elevated self-image expectations following treatment was significantly higher (P = .045) than in the standard case presentation group. The presentation of video images appears to be a valuable information source for conveying treatment options to patients, but caution may be needed to prevent elevated or possibly unrealistic treatment expectations.