Clinical decision support with patient education (CDS-E)
post-extraction pain
AIDS
Providers in the CDS-E arm had the same access to the CDS as providers in the CDS arm. In addition, the front desk printed an educational handout at check-in for patients with a treatment planned extraction. This handout included information comparing opioid and non-opioid options for analgesia on risks, benefits, and effectiveness. The intention of the handout was to equip patients with information about medication options and prompt a discussion with the provider about needs, goals, and preferences. Although this type of enhanced patient-provider communication may not be very common in dentistry in the USA, it was thought that it could lead to more patient-centered care and improve patients’ acceptance of their analgesia plan. Furthermore, although patient information and decision aids are sometimes used in dentistry, examination of the existing materials at HealthPartners found that they did not provide information comparing the efficacy, safety, and side effects of the various analgesics. The handout sought to normalize the experience of some limited discomfort, set expectations, and provide tips for managing post-extraction pain (e.g., ice) and guidance for when to contact providers if they needed additional help in managing their post-extraction pain.