Mobile SMS-Based Intervention on Temporomandibular Disorder Treatment: Preliminary Results

Method: The development of web system used in this study, DTM Alert System (DTMAS), is based on an existing model². Patients will be selected for this study using inclusion and exclusion criteria and the initial sample will consist of 100 individuals. The web system will perform the random allocation of inpatient into two groups: the control group (50 patients) will receive standard treatment and the intervention group (50 patients) standard treatment plus SMS messages triggered by DTMAS once a day. The follow-up visits allowing inpatient evolution will occur every 30 days for three months. Variables analyzed: 1) vertical extent of mouth opening measured as advocating the Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Reasearch Disordes (RDC/TMD)³; 2) pain as measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), 3) maximum bite force measured by a digital gnathodynamometer and 4) frequency of follow-up visits to both groups will be registered. A statistical study will be performed comparing variable data from pre and post treatment based on differences found on both groups. As a final stage, surveys measuring inpatient treatment and project satisfaction will be performed for later analysis.

Result: As preliminary results a web-based tool was tested and approved as a project platform for inpatient SMS communication. The tests included message delivery likelihood, system usability and messages content analysis.  Also, the data gathering stage is under completion.

Conclusion: The ongoing study has its initial phase completed including message system development approved for clinical study implementation and patient data collection is in progress for later analysis.