Sl. Cureton et al., CLINICAL VERSUS QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF HEADGEAR COMPLIANCE, American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, 104(3), 1993, pp. 277-284
This study was undertaken to determine if clinicians could accurately
evaluate headgear compliance. Headgear timers were used covertly to qu
antitatively assess the headgear compliance of 28 patients over 3 cons
ecutive months. Investigators subjectively evaluated the patients to d
etermine how many hours per day they felt the patient had been wearing
the headgear. Investigators were divided into three groups: (1) 5 ort
hodontists (2 board certified, 3 board eligible-total of 50 years of o
rthodontic experience); (2) 10 residents; and (3) 11 assistants. At le
ast two investigators from each group evaluated the same person for al
l three appointments. The average error values were 2.86 hours, 3.27 h
ours, and 3.61 hours, respectively, for the three groups. The standard
deviations were also very large, indicating that no group could accur
ately or consistently assess headgear wear. In this study no differenc
e was found in compliance between sexes. Patients 10 to 12 years of ag
e were more compliant than those 12 to 14 years of age, which were mor
e compliant than the > 16 age group. The least compliant was the 14 to
16 year age group.