Survey of Dental Patients taking Bisphosphonate medication: Version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
“A single-centre (pilot study) at an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (Out-patient) Department of a District General Hospital, as to whether adult referred-patients had received any dental preventative management before they were medically prescribed bisphosphonate medication.”
IRAS ID
195171
Contact name
Paul Francis Gregory
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Kent
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 0 months, 26 days
Research summary
This Survey is by questionnaire of adult patients (>16 years of age) referred to the Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgery Department (OMFS) “New Patient” clinic of Eastbourne General District Hospital for a dental assessment. General Dental Practitioners or medical Practitioners refer for; extractions, wisdom teeth, broken roots, major oral surgery (oral cancers), facial pain, swellings or jaw joint problems. Some patients assessed will be on bisphosphonate medication.
Bisphosphonates are commonly prescribed for osteoporosis or secondary spread of cancers to bones. Anecdotally, more patients are coming to OMFS Departments, as GDPs are concerned over bone healing i.e. complications of severe oral ulceration, intense pain, exposed jaw bone, & delayed wound healing in patients taking bisphosphonate and having oral surgery.
Printed copies of the Patient Information Leaflet will be available in the waiting areas for the patients to read.
All “New Patients” receive a Medical Health Questionnaire from Consultants, Specialist Trainee Registrars, & Senior House Officers, as routine. Patients identified taking bisphosphonates will be invited to take part in the Survey.
Reassurances will be given that it is CONFIDENTIAL, and no personal data, apart from Age and Gender will be requested.
There will be no change to treatment as usual to to those patient who agree to take part in the study.
They will then be invited to participate, by the Clinician, and a consent form signed. Participation is by answering the 9 Survey questions asked by the clinician.
Q1& 2: Age & Gender, Q3-5: type(s) of bisphosphonate: start date, finished or still continuing & taken as tablets, pills or IV drip. Q6-9: types of dental advice, dental examination or explanation of bisphosphonate risks been given. This questionnaire should take 5-7 minutes to complete.
Mr Luke Simpson will run familiarisation sessions (for clinicians selecting participants, taking consent/conducting questionnaire) in the Department, and patient confidentiality & anonymity will be stressed.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/0184
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jan 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion