EVALUATING PATIENT-CLINICIAN COMMUNICATION IN ORAL SURGERY. A STUDY OF CALABAR, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Background: Effective communication is vital in oral surgery for patient satisfaction, understanding, and treatment compliance. This study evaluated the impact of visual aids, digital consent forms, and motivational interviewing on patient outcomes in Calabar, Nigeria. Subjects and methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted over six months at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and General Hospital Calabar, involving 60 patients undergoing oral surgery. Participants were divided into four groups: (1) control (standard consultation), (2) visual aids, (3) digital consent form, and (4) motivational interviewing. Patient understanding was assessed using questionnaires before and after intervention, satisfaction was measured post-consultation, and compliance was tracked for two weeks post-surgery. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and t-tests. Results: The visual aids group showed a significant improvement in patient understanding (p < 0.05) and satisfaction (p < 0.05) compared to the control. The digital consent form group demonstrated higher recall of surgical information (p < 0.05) and better treatment compliance. Motivational interviewing significantly increased postoperative adherence and perceived support (p < 0.05). The combination of all three strategies yielded the highest levels of patient satisfaction and treatment compliance. Results: After 6 months, no significant differences were found between the two groups in sinus membrane elevation (P = 0.5267) or implant stability (P = 0.5573). Although bone height increased in both groups, the difference between them was not statistically significant (P = 0.1713). The Densah group showed a 50% lower risk of sinus membrane perforation compared to the Osteotome group, but this was not statistically significant (P = 0.5483). Patient-reported outcomes were similar between groups at both 1 and 2 weeks (P > 0.05), while intragroup analysis showed a significant improvement in oral health impact profile in both groups (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: Implementing visual aids, digital consent forms, and motivational interviewing techniques significantly enhances patient understanding, satisfaction, and compliance in oral surgery. These strategies should be integrated into routine clinical practice to improve patient outcomes.