Interactive group therapy for the management of myofascial temporomandibular pain

Background and aim To evaluate the outcome of a group therapy approach in the management of myofascial temporomandibular pain (TMD) through promotion of self-care. Methods A group based interactive session was introduced for those patients who, at initial consultation, were diagnosed with myalgic TMD. Feedback forms and telephone interviews were used to record patient reported outcome measures to assess patient satisfaction with the service. Results Fifty-five patients attended 17 group sessions over ten months. Feedback revealed a high level of satisfaction immediately after the session with 71% (n = 39) of patients opting for discharge, reporting confidence to self-manage in primary care. This effect appears to be sustainable up to 11 months. Conclusions This approach benefits patients with myofascial TMD through promotion of self-management while utilising health care resources efficiently.