Interprofessional collaboration for the management of orofacial pain: a delphi study in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND: Depending on the cause of the orofacial pain, different specialists can be involved in the healthcare process. In case the pain is not, or only partly, caused by dental structures, an interprofessional approach is warranted due to the complex nature of most of these complaints. Collaboration between (specialized) dentists, (specialized) physiotherapists, and other healthcare providers like the general medical physician, Ear Nose Throat (ENT) specialist, maxillofacial surgeon, neurologist, psychologist, and/or speech therapist can be necessary. For successful a collaboration, the specific roles of each member of the multidisciplinary team should be clear, both for the care providers and for the patient. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the role of different healthcare providers and their collaboration in the care of patients with orofacial pain. The secondary aim was to describe the when, how, and why regarding interprofessional collaboration for the management of orofacial pain. METHODS: A three-round e-Delphi study was conducted from May 2023 to November 2023. There were three rounds, and all surveys were collected using the online program Qualtrics. Consensus was reached when ≥ 75% of the expert panel members agreed. RESULTS: There were 14 expert panel members actively participating in this study: 4 orofacial pain dentists, 5 orofacial physiotherapists, and 5 patients. In the Netherlands, non-complex orofacial pain complaints can be managed by the general dentist or general medical physician. In the case of complex orofacial pain complaints, the orofacial pain dentist and orofacial physiotherapist are essential members of the interprofessional team. Then, based on the specific needs of the patient, collaboration with other healthcare providers can be initiated. By incorporating interprofessional collaboration, experts believed that the patient would receive the right care sooner, which would benefit treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: Interprofessional collaboration in the form of communication and, for complex cases, interprofessional consults, is recommended for patients with complex orofacial pain. All healthcare providers have their own role during the diagnostic and management process, depending on the complaints and needs of the patient.