https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0662-520X
Abstract
Purpose
Based on Q methodology, this study investigated the motivation of orthodontic treatment for patients and their parents. Through investigation, this paper attempts to explore the motivational factors of CLP and NON-CLP children and their parents, which are different or general.
Patients and methods
Q methodology involves 4 phases. (1) Interviews of CLP (N=5), NON-CLP (N=5) patients generated 30 statements (Q-set 1) and CLP (N=5), NON-CLP (N=5) patients’ parents produced 36 statements (Q-set 2) about different reasons to pursue orthodontic care. (2) P-set: recruitment participants. The sample comprised 40 CLP patients (G1) and 40 NON-CLP patients (G2) aged 9–16 years, 40 CLP patients’ parents (G3) and 40 NON-CLP patients’ parents (G4) wanting their children to have orthodontic treatment. (3) Q-sort: 4 groups ranked statements in order of comparative significance using enforced distribution grids (G1, G2 ranked Q-set 1; G3, G4 ranked Q-set 2). (4) Analysis: using the PQMehtod 2.35 vision to analyze data.
Results
Three factors in each group were identified as representing the most widespread views of the majority of the participants, described as G1: (1) aesthetics, (2) preparation for other oral treatments, (3) timely. G2: (1) admiration of others, aesthetics, (2) oral function, (3) oral hygiene and improvement of smile. G3: (1) worrying about the future of children, parents’ responsibilities, children’s feelings; (2) mental health, timely; (3) parents’ responsibilities, ready for treatment. G4: (1) aesthetics, children’s will; (2) future problems, timely; (3) timely, parents’ responsibility and no need to worry about physical problems.
Conclusion
CLP and NON-CLP patients and parents have different orthodontic treatment motives, yet, they still shared 3 global motivation themes, respectively. Consideration of these motives may help clinicians develop their treatment discussions with patients and parents, which could consequently improve their cooperation and may achieve a more satisfactory outcome.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to Simon Watts and Paul Stenner who declaimed that the writing of <Introducing Q methodology: The Inverted Factor Technique> will do little to fawn on their employers or increase their standing and career status, yet still wrote the book, hence inspires and provides an opportunity to the new learners of Q method, like me, having a better way to undertake Q methodology study.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.