[Using Q methodology to investigate motives of seeking orthodontic treatment from parents' perspectives of cleft lip and/or palate patients].

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to use Q methodology to find out why parents of cleft lip and/or palate (CLP) patients want their children to undergo orthodontic treatment. METHODS: Q methodology involved five phases.1 in circleconcourse, collecting all viewpoints from CLP patients' parents on seeking orthodontic treatment. 2 in circleQ sample, Selecting 36 items from the concourse. 3 in circleP sample, forty varieties of parents whose children were CLP patients and want to have braces. 4 in circleQ sort, participant- ranked statements (Q sample) in order of relative significance using an enforced distribution grid (Q grid). ⑤analysis: using PQMehtod 2.35 vision to analyze the data. RESTULTS: Three factors were identified as representing the most widespread views of the majority of the parents. Group 1 consisted of parents of 13 CLP patients marked as factor 1: responsibility as parents. The parents of 8 participants made up group 2 designated as factor 2: parents' anxiety for their children's wellbeing. Group 3 was made up of parents of 9 CLP patients marked as factor 3: oral function. The opinions of the remaining participants did not fit into any of the outlined three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Parents' motives to seek orthodontic treatment for their children are complicated. Most CLP patients' parents are categorized into three different groups. Understanding these motives will help orthodontists frame their treatment discussions with parents and improve cooperation of both patients and parents.