Qualitative Development of Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

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Understanding symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) can help doctors and patients document, monitor, and manage the disease and help researchers evaluate interventions. Patients with TMDs experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe, primarily in the head and neck region. 

AIR conducted a literature review and focus groups to identify a reliable and valid patient-reported outcome measure to document health outcomes for patients with TMD. This project is part of an outgrowth of efforts by the FDA to improve therapy for TMD through incorporating patient input into the design of measures of outcomes that are used to evaluate those therapies.