Prospective audit of postoperative instructions to patients undergoing root canal treatment in the DDUH and re-audit following introduction of a written patient information sheet
Précis
An audit of the delivery and documentation of postoperative instructions to patients undergoing root canal treatment in the DDUH demonstrated unfavourable results compared to the ideal benchmark. Introduction of a postoperative leaflet significantly improved the content and consistency of the advice and will be implemented in future.
Abstract
Statement of the problem: Concerns were expressed that postoperative written instructions following endodontic treatment are not available in the Dublin Dental University Hospital.
Materials and methods: Data was collected in three phases: retrospective analysis of clinical notes for evidence of the delivery of postoperative instructions; a randomly distributed questionnaire to patients undergoing root canal treatment prior to the introduction of a written postoperative advice sheet; and, another survey following introduction of the advice sheet.
Results: Some 56% of patients’ charts documented that postoperative advice was given. Analysis of phase two revealed that patients were not consistently informed of any key postoperative messages. In phase 3 analysis, the proposed benchmarks were met in four out of six categories.
Conclusions: Postoperative advice after root canal treatment in the DDUH is both poorly recorded and inconsistently delivered. A combination of oral postoperative instructions and written postoperative advice provided the most effective delivery of patient information.
Journal of the Irish Dental Association 2016; 62 (1): 55-59
A Moorthy
BA BDentSc MFDS RCPS (Glasg)
NCHD, Dublin Dental University Hospital,
Lincoln Place, Trinity College Dublin
AF Alkadhimi
BA BDentSc MFD RCSI
NCHD, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Lincoln Place, Trinity College Dublin
Leo F Stassen
FRCSI FDS RCS MA FTCD FFSEM FFD RCSI FICD
Professor/Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Trinity College Dublin Dublin, and Dublin Dental University Hospital, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2
HF Duncan
BDS FDS RCS (Edin) MClinDent MRD RCS (Edin)
Assistant Professor/Consultant in Endodontics, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2
Corresponding author: Dr Hal Duncan, Assistant Professor/Consultant in Endodontics, Dublin Dental University Hospital, Lincoln Place, Dublin 2
T +353 (0)1 612 7316
E: Hal.Duncan@dental.tcd.ie
