Evaluation of fixed orthodontic patient's compliance in the clinic of Shiraz dental school: A cross-sectional study

Orthodontic patients’ cooperation is a determining factor in treatment outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between patient cooperation during orthodontic treatment with variables such as age, sex, life setting, treatment duration and functional and social discomfort experienced. Specimens were consisted of 100 orthodontic patients (36 males and 64 females) between 13-35 years old (average age: 22.57±1.69 years). Patients’ demographic traits, treatment duration andfunctional-social discomfort by the orthodontic treatment were evaluated using a questionnaire answered by the patients or their parents. The degree of patient cooperation was assessed by the modified cooperation questionnaire (Orthodontic Patient Cooperation Scale [OPCS]) which was completed by an orthodontist. Data were analyzed using One-way ANOVA, T-test, intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson Correlation. No significant difference was found between the cooperation of male and female patients (P=0.867) and also between the cooperation of the patients who lived in the urban and rural setting (P=0.613). Treatment duration and compliance showed a low negative correlation which was not statistically significant (r=-0.155, P=0.127). Functional-social discomfort and compliance showed a low negative correlation which was not statistically significant (r=-0.118, P=0.244). No significant correlations were found between the compliance and age (r=0.002, P=0.988); and also the treatment duration and functional-social discomfort experienced(r=0.164, P=0.105). Patient compliance appears to be a complex issue that cannot easily be predicted only by factors such as age, gender, life setting, treatment duration and functional-social discomfort experienced.