Development of a Measure for Prediction of Compliance in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients: An Examination of Oral Hygiene Compliance During Orthodontic Treatment
Abstract
Background and Objective:
The importance of patient compliance on the outcome of orthodontic treatment is well established. Unfortunately, despite the crucial role it plays, providers lack an instrument to assist in patient compliance prediction. The present study will test the reliability and validity of an instrument designed to predict oral hygiene compliance amongst adolescent orthodontic patients undergoing comprehensive orthodontic treatment.
Materials and methods:
A prospective, longitudinal study was designed to evaluate test the reliability and validity of a modified psychometric measure designed to predict oral hygiene compliance amongst adolescent orthodontic patients. The committee modified an existing measure to form the Oral Hygiene Compliance Measure
(OHCoM) survey. Subjects were recruited from patients actively undergoing care at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry Graduate Orthodontic Clinic. All subjects were being treated fixed full appliances in both arches. There were 38 females and 36 males who completed the study. The subjects ranged from 11 to 17 years of age. Subjects completed the survey and underwent a clinical hygiene evaluation (MGI, PI, OPI, and BI) at two timepoints 8-12 weeks apart with an average treatment time of 16.3 months.
Results:
There were no sex or age differences in either the hygiene or survey scores. The total hygiene scores remained stable over time with scores of 44% and 45% at T1 and T2. The total survey scores insignificantly increased from 90.1 at T1 to 91.9 at T2. A correlation of .833 (p < .001) and a Cronbach’s a of 0.94 were calculated between T1 and T2 survey scores. The correlation between each timepoints total hygiene scores and total survey scores were both weak and not statistically significant (T1: R = -.221, p = .059) (T2: R = -.156, p = .188).
Conclusions:
Oral hygiene of adolescent patients midway through orthodontic treatment is, at best, at a moderate level. Over the short term, overall mid-treatment hygiene remains stable. The OHCoM can be measured reliably. The OHCoM is not a valid instrument for the prediction of adolescent orthodontic patient oral hygiene.
Citation
Dooley, Daniel Michael (2022). Development of a Measure for Prediction of Compliance in Adolescent Orthodontic Patients: An Examination of Oral Hygiene Compliance During Orthodontic Treatment. Master's thesis, Texas A&M University. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /197285.