[Predictors for compliance in orthodontic treatment]

Having established the importance of compliance as a significant factor of a successful orthodontic treatment, the aim of the present study was to evaluate intrapersonal and interpersonal factors which could help predict patient compliance.

The attributional style of 58 patients was assessed by a standardised questionnaire. An individual questionnaire was designed to determine attitudes concerning orthodontic treatment, the doctor-patient relationship, the wearing behaviour and control behaviour. The questionnaire was answered by the patient and by the orthodontist. The compliance was evaluated by the orthodontist on the basis of commonly used indicators for compliance: wearing time, oral hygiene and reliability of keeping the appointments.

The results showed a significant correlation between the compliance and the attributional style of the patients in positive situations, but not between the compliance and the wearing behaviour estimated by the patient. The interpersonal comparison revealed a lack of knowledge on the part of the orthodontist about the patients' daily activities and their ability to correctly wear their appliances.

The questionnaire answers show compliance to be a subjective construct of the orthodontist demonstrating mostly social-emotional matters. There is no consistency with compliance and the patients' statement concerning their wearing behaviour but with a positive attitude on the part of the patients demonstrating independent responsibility.