OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of video or leaflet in conjunction with traditional patient education (TPE) with traditional patient education alone for the compliance and satisfaction of the patients with temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-three patients with TMD who needed intra-articular injection of hyaluronate were included and randomly divided into three groups: Group I accepted video education plus TPE, Group II accepted leaflet education plus TPE, Group III accepted TPE alone. All the participants were recorded by demographic characteristics (sex, age) before treatment, and their compliance, satisfaction and self-exercise were also recorded after one month followed-up.

RESULTSThe baseline parameters (sex, age and diagnosis) of the groups were similar (P > 0.05). Seventeen participants lost in follow-up, including 4.5% in Group I, 11.1% in Group II and 22.7% in Group III. There were significant differences in lost rates among the three groups (P = 0.035). The rates of participants who exactly followed the appointed follow-up were higher in Group I and II than in group III (P = 0.04). And the satisfaction rates were 90.5% in Group I, 92.5% in Group II, 76.5% in Group III. The satisfaction rates of Group I and Group II were significantly higher than that of Group III (P = 0.05). The patients in Group I and Group II were more compliant with the self-exercise than that in Group III (P = 0.007).

CONCLUSIONAdding video or leaflet education to the TPE could increase the patients' compliance, satisfaction and execution of the self-exercise.