Impact of the first eight months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of the first 8 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance on the families of adolescent patients and to examine the evaluative properties of the Family Impact Scale (FIS).


METHODS
The study involved a sample of 94 parents/caregivers of adolescents undergoing orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance. The participants were asked to answer the Brazilian version of the FIS before treatment (T1) and 8 months after the bonding of the fixed appliance (T2). Statistical analysis was carried out using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the Bonferroni correction for the overall score and FIS subscales. Responsiveness of the measure and the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) were also assessed.


RESULTS
Among the 94 participants initially admitted to the present study, two were excluded as a result of treatment dropout and failure to return the second questionnaire. Thus, a sample of 92 parents/caregivers participated (response rate: 97.8%). Among the 92 participants, 70 were the mothers of patients, 16 were fathers, and six were other family members. Statistically significant improvements were found in the overall score (P < .001) as well as in both parental activity and parental emotions subscales (P < .001). The reductions in scores were associated with effect sizes showing moderate clinically meaningful changes in the overall FIS and in the parental/family activity, parental emotions, and family conflict subscales. The MCID was 2.66 for the overall FIS.


CONCLUSIONS
The first 8 months of orthodontic treatment with a fixed appliance had a positive impact on the families of adolescents.
a  PhD Student, Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Lucas G
LG
Abreu
Camilo A
CA
Melgaço
Mauro H N G
MH
Abreu
Elizabeth M B
EM
Lages
Saul M
SM
Paiva
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004644:Emotions; D054541:Family Conflict / Q000523:psychology; D005192:Family Health; D005195:Family Relations; D005219:Father-Child Relations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D061326:Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009967:Orthodontic Appliances / Q000191:economics; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012944:Social Support
Adolescent; Family; Orthodontic treatment; Parental report; Proxy; Quality of life