Parent perspectives on effective patient-provider communication during orthodontic consultations: a qualitative description study.

Objectives: To describe parent perspectives on effective patient-provider communication (PPC) during orthodontic consultations for their children.

Materials and methods: Qualitative description guided the study design. Parents of children who recently underwent an orthodontic consultation and were fluent in English were purposefully selected. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. Data were analyzed using inductive, manifest thematic analysis.

Results: Fifteen parents, including 10 females and five males, participated. Four themes were inductively developed. Parents attributed several characteristics to effective PPC, including inclusivity, clarity, honesty, and comprehensiveness's. Specifically, they emphasized the importance of involving children and staff members in the consultation process, delivering honest and justifiable diagnoses and treatment plans, and adopting a holistic approach that considered all phases of the therapeutic process and various dimensions such as tasks, finances, and relationships between patients and care providers.

Conclusions: The findings underscore the significance of care provider-related factors in PPC. These findings also emphasize the need for a collaborative and inclusive approach between orthodontic patients and care providers to foster effective PPC. Subsequent researchers should delve into the perspectives of pediatric patients, particularly adolescents, and care providers regarding effective PPC.