title: "Why do you want your child to have braces?" Investigating the motivations of Hispanic/Latino and white parents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many psychological, social, and cultural factors influence parents' motivation to seek orthodontic care for their children. In this study, we used Q methodology to identify and categorize shared motives and determine whether cultural differences exist between Hispanic/Latino (H/L) and non-Hispanic/Latino, white (W) parents.
  
  
  METHODS
  The fundamental question posed to the parents was "Why do you want your child to have braces?" Q methodology involves 3 stages. (1) Interviews of H/L (n = 5) and W (n = 5) parents generated 35 statements that represented different motives to seek orthodontic care. (2) In the Q sort, 70 new parents (22 H/L, 48 W) ranked statements in order of relative importance using a forced distribution grid. (3) Factor analysis was performed separately for the H/L and W groups to uncover cultural differences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four motivational profiles were described for both the H/L and W parents based on the significant factors identified in each group. More H/L parents (18 of 22 parents) than W parents (22 of 48 parents) were characterized by 1 of their group's 4 profiles. Comparisons of the motivational profiles across the groups showed 4 global themes: well-timed treatment that prevents future dental problems, parental responsibility, perceived benefits, and perceived need instilled by the dentist.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four global themes captured the motives of most parents seeking orthodontic treatment for their children. Understanding these global themes can help clinicians frame their treatment discussions with parents.
authors.affiliation: Private practice, Seattle, Wash.
authors.forename: Blake B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Clinical associate professor, Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bayirli
authors.affiliation: Professor and chair, Department of Oral Health Sciences; professor, Department of Orthodontics; professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Ramsay
authors.affiliation: Affiliate professor, Department of Orthodontics, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Turpin
authors.affiliation: Student, Pomona College, Claremont, Calif.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paige
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Mass. Electronic address: Christine_Riedy@hsdm.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Riedy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000067697:Adolescent Health / Q000208:ethnology; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D000067576:Child Health / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009042:Motivation; D009909:Oral Health / Q000208:ethnology; D009971:Orthodontics, Corrective / Q000523:psychology*; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology*