THE INFLUENCE OF POSTOPERATIVE TELEPHONE CALLS ON PAIN PERCEPTION - ASTUDY OF 118 PERIODONTAL SURGICAL-PROCEDURES

This age-matched and sex-matched study examined the influence of posto perative telephone calls on pain perception and on the number of analg esics used for pain relief. Adult periodontitis subjects (n = 118) rec eived periodontal surgery after examination and sanative therapy (scal ing, root pinning, and removal of local irritants). All subjects recei ved similar care, postoperative instructions, and medication, except 5 9 subjects were phoned 24 hours postoperative (PC group), and 59 were not (NC group). Callers covered 10 points and weve reassuring and posi tive about surgical outcomes. One week postoperative, subjects complet ed a questionnaire that rated pain intensity on a visual analogue scal e and indicated the number of pills used and whether they had been cal led. Pain and analgesics used were significantly decreased in the PC g roup (P < 0.001)compared to the NC group. A significant positive corre lation was found between pain and pills used in the groups combined (r = 0.79, P < 0.001 PC + NC), and in the groups separately (r = 0.50, P < 0.001 PC; r = 0.41, P < 0.01 NC). Postoperative communication betwe en healthcare providers and patients significantly reduces pain percep tion and number of analgesics used for relief.