International Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry

Register      Login

VOLUME 14 , ISSUE 2 ( March-April, 2021 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Dental Practitioner's Perception of the Compliance of Pediatric Patients to Orofacial Myotherapy Treatment Protocols: A Mixed Methods Study

Nikhita S Gune, Amar N Katre

Keywords : Mixed methods study, Orofacial myotherapy, Patient compliance

Citation Information : Gune NS, Katre AN. Dental Practitioner's Perception of the Compliance of Pediatric Patients to Orofacial Myotherapy Treatment Protocols: A Mixed Methods Study. Int J Clin Pediatr Dent 2021; 14 (2):222-228.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10005-1909

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 30-07-2021

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2021; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction: The success of orofacial myotherapy in children is dependent on patient compliance to treatment protocols recommended by practitioners, such as reporting for regular follow-ups to the clinic, wear of appliances, and practice of orofacial myotherapy exercises at home. Due to the availability of limited literature on the same, this mixed methods study focused on studying the perception of Indian dental practitioners toward pediatric patient compliance to orofacial myotherapy treatment protocols. Materials and methods: A self-administered, digital questionnaire was emailed to members of the Foundation of Orofacial Myotherapy. Participants were asked to rate the pediatric patient compliance in their practice on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from Very Compliant to Not Compliant at all. Parameters assessed included patient attendance for clinical follow-ups, regular appliance wear, and the daily practice of exercises at home. Qualitative data were collected based on the participant's answers to open-ended questions on compliance barriers faced by them in practice. Results: 39.5% of practitioners rated their patients to be compliant toward clinical follow-ups, while 27.9% of practitioners reported patients to be compliant to home schedule. Barriers to patient compliance reported by practitioners were lack of motivation of parent and child, absence of parental supervision, hectic patient schedule, peer pressure, and difficulty in performing exercises and wearing appliances. Conclusion: Patient compliance to orofacial myotherapy treatment protocols remains a problem area for dental practitioners. There is a need to conduct future studies to explore behavioral interventions which can help practitioners overcome the barriers to patient compliance reported in this study. Clinical significance: The results of this study can help practitioners who are already practicing orofacial myotherapy or plan to do so in future, to identify problem areas in their own practice, in the context of pediatric patient compliance toward orofacial myotherapy treatment protocols and the potential measures that can be implemented by them to overcome the same.


HTML PDF Share
  1. Homem MA, Vieira-Andrade RG, Falci SG, et al. Effectiveness of orofacial myofunctional therapy in orthodontic patients: a systematic review. Dental Press J Orthod 2014;19(4):94–99. DOI: 10.1590/2176-9451.19.4.094-099.oar.
  2. Acharya P, Jawdekar A, Orofacial Functional Myotherapy. IDRR. May, 2017. Available at: https://www.idrr.in/article/print/103. (Last accessed on 12, July, 2019).
  3. Idris G, Hajeer MY, Al-Jundi A. Soft- and hard-tissue changes following treatment of class II division 1 malocclusion with activator versus trainer: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Orthod 2019;41(1):21–28. DOI: 10.1093/ejo/cjy014.
  4. Wright GZ, Kupietzky A, ed. Behavior management in dentistry for children. Ames: John Wiley & Sons; 2014. p. 79.
  5. Cirgic E, Kjellberg H, Petzold M, et al. A cost-minimization analysis of large overjet reduction with two removable functional appliances based on a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Orthod 2017;40(4):437–443. DOI: 10.1093/ejo/cjx077.
  6. Martin LR, Williams SL, Haskard KB, et al. The challenge of patient adherence. Ther Clin Risk Manag 2005;1(3):189–199.
  7. Hooker S, Punjabi A, Justesen K, et al. Encouraging health behavior change: eight evidence-based strategies. Fam Pract Manag 2018;25(2):31–36.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.