Aim:

To assess the adequacy of patient information to support understanding and decision-making for people affected by hypodontia.

Methods:

1) Questionnaire to understand the provision of patient information by dentists; 2) Systematic search to identify online open-access patient information; 3) Quality assessment of written patient information.

Results:

Questionnaire response rate was 49% (319/649); 91% examined and/or treated people with hypodontia. Most general dentists referred patients to specialist services without providing written hypodontia information. The majority of dental specialists provide patient leaflets but less than a third used web-resources. Only 19% of respondents felt current resources were fit-for-purpose. Thirty-one patient resources (18 leaflets and 13 online) were assessed against quality criteria. The aim of the resource was seldom explicit, the content was often incomplete and variation in readability scores indicated high levels of literacy were required.

Discussion:

Access to, and quality of, patient information for hypodontia is inadequate. Current resources are not sufficiently comprehensive to prepare young patients to engage in shared dental care decisions with their parents and/or dental professionals.

Conclusion:

There is a need for improved access to, and provision of, information about hypodontia if dental professionals want to meet best practice guidance and involve patients in shared decision-making.

中文翻译：

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为缺牙症患者评估信息资源

目的：

评估患者信息的充分性，以支持受缺牙症影响的人的理解和决策。

方法：

1) 调查问卷以了解牙医提供的患者信息；2) 系统搜索以识别在线开放获取患者信息；3) 书面患者信息的质量评估。

结果：

问卷回复率为 49% (319/649)；91% 的患者检查和/或治疗了缺牙症。大多数普通牙医将患者转诊至专科服务机构，但并未提供书面的缺牙症信息。大多数牙科专家提供患者传单，但使用网络资源的不到三分之一。只有 19% 的受访者认为当前资源适合用途。根据质量标准评估了 31 个患者资源（18 个传单和 13 个在线）。资源的目的很少明确，内容往往不完整，可读性分数的变化表明需要高水平的读写能力。

讨论：

对缺牙症患者信息的访问和质量不足。目前的资源不够全面，不足以让年轻患者做好与父母和/或牙科专业人员共同参与牙科护理决策的准备。

结论：

如果牙科专业人员希望满足最佳实践指导并让患者参与共同决策，则需要改进对缺牙症信息的访问和提供。