Abstract

Background: Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is characterized by intense chronic burning sensation of the tongue or other regions of the oral mucosa. Patient empowerment is a mechanism to help patients with long-term conditions to better manage their health and achieve better outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the effective measures of the one-day group-based empowerment activities on patients with primary BMS.

Methods: The study was based on a self-completed questionnaire as a measure to assess the efficacy of group empowering self-management. We distributed questionnaires before and after the one-day group-based empowerment activities, which comprised a 30-minute talk to understand BMS in general, an experience sharing session between BMS patient representatives and dentists and a whole group discussion as interactive dialogue among all BMS patients. Measurement parameters included VAS for burning intensity, knowledge and attitudes, and catastrophizing thoughts. Paired samples t-test was used for statistical analysis to compare each parameter of before and after the one-day group-based empowerment activities.

Results: Twenty-three BMS patients (20 females, 3 males, and age 60.6±10.4 years) participated in one-day group-based empowerment activities. Patients reported 3.3±2.6 years of suffering from BMS. Initial assessments reveal a significant increase of patient understanding to BMS condition, whereas there is a reduction of burning intensity (from 3.9±3.3 to 3.5±2.0). Significant difference in total pain catastrophizing score was observed (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: Initial assessments suggest that the one-day group-based empowerment activities improve patient understanding and ability to cope with pain. BMS remains a challenge to clinicians and researchers. Patients should be made aware that the symptoms might not totally resolve even after long-term treatment. Patient education and support group play a key role to successful management.

Keywords: burning mouth syndrome, empowerment, self-management, pain catastrophizing