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Temporomandibular Disorders
Author Bios
Introduction
Epidemiology
Currently selected section: Population Perspective
Developmental Perspective
Ecological Perspective
Epidemiologic Measures
Defining a Case
Pain Location
Pain Frequency, Duration and Severity
Recency of Pain
Ambient Pain or Pain on Function?
Clinical Signs and Symptoms
Pain Impact/Disability
Co-morbidity
Choosing an Appropriate Design
Cross-sectional Surveys
Currently selected section: Longitudinal Studies
Case-control Studies
Prospective Designs
Preventive and Clinical Trials
Currently selected section: Clinical Epidemiology
Practical Considerations
Sample Size
Standardizing Data Collection
Response Burden
Summary

 

Chapter 26: Studying the Epidemiology of Temporomanibular Disorders: Clinical Epidemiology
          

Clinical epidemiology has been defined as the application of epidemiologic principles and methods to problems encountered in clinical practice (Fletcher et al., 1982). The methods of epidemiology discussed in this chapter can provide information directly relevant to the practice of clinical medicine and dentistry.

For example, primary care physicians and general dentists frequently evaluate patients with a presenting complaint of facial pain. In the interactive exercise that follows, try to match the clinical practice situation with the relevant type of study design and/or data.

When primary care physicians or general dentists evaluate patients with a presenting complaint of facial pain, what data and/or epidemiologic study design listed below is most likely to provide information relevant to the situation described? Please provide an answer for each situation and then click the Check Answers link at the bottom of the page.

Selection AClinical and preventive trials
Selection BCase-control and prospective study data
Selection CCross-sectional survey data
Selection DLongitudinal studies
Selection EProspective studies

Question 21.1

Evaluation of a pain condition should be influenced by an understanding of how common the complaint is in the general population, information that can be obtained from ________________________.
A
B
C
D
E

Question 21.2

Subsequent to evaluation, the clinician needs to provide the patient with information on the likely course of the pain condition, information that can be gleaned from _________________________.
A
B
C
D
E

Question 21.3

In evaluating the condition, information on risk factors obtained from _______________________ may influence both diagnostic and treatment decisions.
A
B
C
D
E

Question 21.4

The health care provider needs to identify the patient's differential risk for bad outcomes (e.g. continued pain, disability) that may be quantified through ____________________ of the course of illness.
A
B
C
D
E

Question 21.5

Finally, the clinician needs reliable information on how to treat presenting conditions, prevent major complications and recurrences, and reduce the risks of development of chronic pain, information that comes from __________________________.
A
B
C
D
E

Check Answers

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