Understanding, Modulation and Memorization of Indicators Associated to Peri-implantitis

Communication strategies are encouraged to enhance patients´ understanding of potential events related to implant therapy such as peri-implantitis. Moreover, it is key to provide accurate information to patients receiving dental implants to reduce false expectations and to minimize the alterations concerning satisfaction. Information leaflets based in the "health-belief model" proved efficiency in improving health judgments, decisions and behaviors, in particular when supplemented with visual aids. Hence, it was the purpose of the present study to test the effectiveness of different communication strategies to enhance and modulate the understanding and memorization of risk indicators associated to peri-implantitis.

A prospective randomized controlled three-arm study is being conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki on human studies. Three groups are defined to test the hypothesis that visual aids improve the understanding, modulation and memorization of peri-implantitis and related indicators as follows:

• Test group1 - Leaflet with visual aid (L-VA): Information concerning etiology, prevalence, risk indicators and preventive measures of peri-implantitis were included (supplementary figure 1). Relevant scientific bibliography supported the statements. Along, pictograms were supplemented to display the prevalence of disease with and without the known indicator.
• Test group2 - Leaflet with visual aid (L-NVA): Information concerning etiology, prevalence, risk indicators and preventive measures of peri-implantitis were included (supplementary figure 2). Relevant scientific bibliography supported the statements. No pictograms were supplemented.
• Control group - No leaflet (NL): Only verbal information was provided to the patient during initial interview.

Patients will be randomly assigned to the tests or control groups according to the last digit of their chart number. As such, patients with records ending 1-4, 4-7 and 8-0 were included in test group1, test group2 and control group, respectively. When reached the total sample size of any of the groups, patients were only recruited for the remaining groups to complete the total sample size. A questionnaire based on the "health-belief model" will be collected from every eligible patient at baseline, 3- and 6-month follow-up