Clinical versus quantitative assessment of headgear compliance

This study was undertaken to determine if clinicians could accurately evaluate headgear compliance. Headgear timers were used covertly to quantitatively assess the headgear compliance of 28 patients over 3 consecutive months. Investigators subjectively evaluated the patients to determine how many hours per day they felt the patient had been wearing the headgear. Investigators were divided into three groups: (1) 5 orthodontists (2 board certified, 3 board eligible--total of 50 years of orthodontic experience); (2) 10 residents; and (3) 11 assistants. At least two investigators from each group evaluated the same person for all three appointments. The average error values were 2.86 hours, 3.27 hours, and 3.61 hours, respectively, for the three groups. The standard deviations were also very large, indicating that no group could accurately or consistently assess headgear wear. In this study no difference was found in compliance between sexes. Patients 10 to 12 years of age were more compliant than those 12 to 14 years of age, which were more compliant than the > 16 age group. The least compliant was the 14 to 16 year age group.