[Perceived coercion of noninstitutionalized elderly patients undergoing research for the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint dysfunction].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate perceived coercion (PC) of noninstitutionalized elderly patients undergoing research for the diagnosis of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. METHOD A cross-sectional study conducted with 1,112 elderly individuals aged 60 or older, enrolled in the Family Health Programme of the municipality of Areia, State of Paraíba, Brazil, from January to June 2013. The data collection tool was the Perceived Coercion Scale (PSC). RESULTS The participants were predominantly women (62.5%) in the 60 to 69 age group (45.9%), illiterate (57.9% percent), married or in a common law marriage (54.1%), retired (83.6%), and receiving a monthly income under the minimum wage (72.0%). The average overall PC was 1.25+ 1.15 and Trend 1 (41,4%). There was a difference between the group of individuals who were literate, married and in a common law marriage and the members of the other groups. CONCLUSION Results showed that the elderly patients were minimally coerced when deciding whether to participate in research for diagnosing temporomandibular joint dysfunction. They also revealed a significant association of PC with literacy and marital status.