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Lookup NU author(s): Professor Justin DurhamORCiD, Emeritus Professor Jimmy Steele CBE, Dr Robert Wassell, Professor Catherine Exley
Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a common group of chronic illnesses. There is evidence that health professionals find them difficult to diagnose and manage. A consequence of this difficulty in diagnosis might be that sufferers of TMDs have an experience of illness comparable with other chronic illnesses. To explore the sufferers' experience of TMDs, we conducted a qualitative study with a purposive maximum variation sample of secondary care TMD patients. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the sample and were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data collection and analysis continued until data saturation (n = 19). For analysis, we broadly followed the constant comparative method and used frameworks to organize the data. The key finding was that a lack of diagnosis caused uncertainty over the nature of the cause of the sufferer's complaint. This uncertainty reportedly caused negative impacts on sufferers' daily lives. Clearly, diagnosis of TMDs needs to be encouraged at the first point of contact.
Author(s): Durham J, Steele JG, Wassell RW, Exley C
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Dental Research
Year: 2010
Volume: 89
Issue: 8
Pages: 827-830
Print publication date: 01/08/2010
Online publication date: 16/04/2010
Acceptance date: 28/02/2010
Date deposited: 24/04/2015
ISSN (print): 0022-0345
ISSN (electronic): 1544-0591
Publisher: Sage Publications
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0022034510368648
DOI: 10.1177/0022034510368648
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