Background/Objectives: Recent years have seen increased research investigating treatment outcomes from a patient perspective. However, parental perceptions are also important, as parents provide useful feedback. There is general acceptance that patients, and their parents, seek treatment for reasons including improvements in aesthetics, function and quality of life. However, there is still little high quality evidence regarding how these are affected by treatment. This qualitative study explored parental perceptions of treatment outcomes. Subjects and Methods: One-to-one semi-structured in-depth interviews were undertaken with parents of adolescent patients who had completed a course of fixed appliance treatment in order to ascertain how they felt about the outcomes of their child's treatment. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis, through a framework method approach. A number of the parents interviewed were "paired" with the patients included in Part 1 of this study, thus allowing paired data to be considered. Due to the qualitative nature of this study, no statistical testing was undertaken. Results: Twenty-two parents were interviewed. Thematic analysis identified 3 main themes, and associated subthemes, relating to outcomes of treatment: health-related behavioural change, dental health and psychosocial influences. The majority of parents discussed healthrelated behavioural changes, suggesting potential long-term benefits of treatment. Limitations: Whilst the study involved a typical cohort of parents for the hospital where the study was undertaken, the results may not be generalisable to all orthodontic parents/patients. Conclusions/Implications: Parents reported three key themes related to benefits of their child's orthodontic treatment and these provide valuable evidence for orthodontic treatment benefits.
Background: The outcomes of orthodontic treatment are frequently classified as aesthetic, functional and psycho-social. However, there is limited research looking at outcomes of treatment in a qualitative manner from the patients' perspective. It is crucial to have a better understanding of these outcomes to allow management of expectations and enhance satisfaction with treatment. Objectives: To assess the outcomes of orthodontic treatment from the adolescent patient perspective. Subjects and Methods: This was a prospective qualitative study in which 20 adolescent patients (13-18 years), and parents, were interviewed using semi-structured in-depth interviews to assess how they felt about the outcomes of their treatment. The interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim and a content thematic analysis was undertaken using a framework approach. This publication reports on data from the patient interviews. Results: Thematic analysis identified three main themes, and associated subthemes. The themes were (i) health related behavioural changes, including improvement in the perceived ability to maintain good oral hygiene and better diet, (ii) dental health, encompassing enhanced aesthetics, function, and reduction in plaque accumulation and (iii) psychosocial influences, for example enhanced confidence, self-esteem and better social interactions. These themes support the quality of life benefits of treatment. Conclusion/ implications: Interviewing adolescent patients identified the important positive, and potentially long-term, benefits of orthodontic treatment. The results provide invaluable information which increases our understanding of the treatment we provide and gives important information which can be utilised when managing expectations during the informed consent stage. It is hoped that this may allow enhanced satisfaction following treatment.
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