(PR145) The Effect of Visual and Mnemonic Memory Aids on Patient Compliance and Pain Management

Effective post-operative instruction compliance is vital for patient recovery and reducing complications following endodontic treatment. However, patients often struggle to retain these instructions, leading to issues like post-operative pain and flare-up emergency visits.

Objective: This study examined whether memorization techniques, such as visual aids and mnemonics, could improve patient compliance and pain management.

Methods: In a randomized controlled trial, 51 patients undergoing nonsurgical endodontic procedures were divided into three groups: control, image, and mnemonic. All groups received standard verbal and written instructions. Additionally, the mnemonic group received rhyming phrases, and the image group received pictures that illustrated the following: not chewing on the tooth, taking the medication at specific time intervals with meals, and calling their dentist to schedule a crown. Compliance with medication and post-operative care, as well as post-operative pain levels, were assessed via follow-up calls three days post-procedure.

Results: Compliance was higher in the image group (p = 0.06) in taking pain medication and in the mnemonic group for following chewing restrictions (p = 0.05) compared to the control. No significant differences were observed for supplemental medication compliance. Post-operative pain, measured using the Verbal Rating Scale, tended to be lower in the image group than in the mnemonic group (p = 0.061), though results were not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Visual aids and mnemonics may improve compliance with post-operative instructions, with visual aids showing potential for reducing pain. Further research with larger samples is recommended to validate these findings and assess the long-term impact on patient outcomes.