Table 5 Responses of study participants based on ethnicity
From: Knowledge, attitude and practice of patients towards orthodontic treatment
Questions | Total (N = 507) | Malay | Chinese | Indian | Others | p value (< 0.05) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | n | % | ||
K1) Braces | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 496 | 97.8 | 311 | 98.4 | 135 | 98.5 | 43 | 91.5 | 7 | 100 | 0.019** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 11 | 2.2 | 5 | 1.6 | 2 | 1.5 | 4 | 8.5 | 0 | 0 | |
K2) The duration of undergoing orthodontic treatment is | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 439 | 86.6 | 280 | 88.6 | 117 | 85.4 | 36 | 76.6 | 6 | 85.7 | 0.150** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 68 | 13.4 | 36 | 11.4 | 20 | 14.6 | 11 | 23.4 | 1 | 14.3 | |
K3) Instructions on oral hygiene and eating habits | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 497 | 98 | 315 | 99.7 | 129 | 94.2 | 46 | 97.9 | 7 | 100 | 0.002*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0.3 | 8 | 5.8 | 1 | 2.1 | 0 | 0 | |
K4) If the treatment is incomplete, the condition of my teeth will | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 352 | 69.4 | 217 | 68.7 | 93 | 67.9 | 36 | 76.6 | 6 | 85.7 | 0.522** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 155 | 30.6 | 99 | 31.3 | 44 | 32.1 | 11 | 23.4 | 1 | 14.3 | |
K5) After my braces are removed | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 410 | 80.9 | 251 | 79.4 | 117 | 85.4 | 35 | 74.5 | 7 | 100 | 0.179*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 97 | 19.1 | 65 | 20.6 | 20 | 14.6 | 12 | 25.5 | 0 | 0 | |
A1) I think that people who wear braces do not look attractive | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 373 | 73.6 | 232 | 73.4 | 96 | 70.1 | 40 | 85.1 | 5 | 71.4 | 0.211*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 134 | 26.4 | 84 | 26.6 | 41 | 29.9 | 7 | 14.9 | 2 | 28.6 | |
A2) I often wait a very long time in the waiting area | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 179 | 35.3 | 127 | 40.2 | 38 | 27.7 | 12 | 25.5 | 2 | 28.6 | 0.031** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 328 | 64.7 | 189 | 59.8 | 99 | 72.3 | 35 | 74.5 | 5 | 71.4 | |
A3) Time spent with the orthodontist during my appointment is | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 420 | 82.8 | 265 | 83.9 | 117 | 85.4 | 33 | 70.2 | 5 | 71.4 | 0.074*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 87 | 17.2 | 51 | 16.1 | 20 | 14.6 | 14 | 29.8 | 2 | 28.6 | |
A4) I am happy with the treatment outcome so far | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 404 | 79.7 | 265 | 83.9 | 98 | 71.5 | 98 | 76.6 | 5 | 71.4 | 0.017*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 103 | 20.3 | 51 | 16.1 | 39 | 28.5 | 339 | 23.4 | 2 | 28.6 | |
A5) My orthodontic treatment is expensive | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 387 | 74.6 | 230 | 72.8 | 104 | 75.9 | 38 | 80.9 | 6 | 85.7 | 0.626*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 129 | 25.4 | 86 | 27.2 | 33 | 24.1 | 9 | 19.1 | 1 | 14.3 | |
P1) Restrict certain food and alter my dietary habits to maintain braces | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 202 | 39.8 | 115 | 36.4 | 55 | 40.1 | 28 | 59.6 | 4 | 57.1 | 0.018** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 305 | 60.2 | 201 | 63.6 | 82 | 59.9 | 19 | 40.4 | 3 | 42.9 | |
P2) Brush and rinse mouth more often so that food does not get stuck in the braces | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 391 | 77.1 | 239 | 75.6 | 106 | 77.4 | 40 | 85.1 | 6 | 85.7 | 0.549*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 116 | 22.9 | 77 | 24.4 | 31 | 22.6 | 7 | 14.9 | 1 | 14.3 | |
P3) While undergoing orthodontic treatment, I clean my teeth using | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 295 | 58.2 | 173 | 54.7 | 85 | 62 | 31 | 66 | 6 | 85.7 | 0.126** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 212 | 41.8 | 143 | 45.3 | 52 | 38 | 16 | 34 | 1 | 14.3 | |
P4) Brackets/wires often break or dislodge due to my carelessness | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 260 | 51.3 | 164 | 51.9 | 63 | 46 | 28 | 59.6 | 5 | 71.4 | 0.260** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 247 | 48.7 | 152 | 48.1 | 74 | 54 | 19 | 40.4 | 2 | 28.6 | |
P5) Often forget or miss my appointment dates | |||||||||||
 (i) Correct | 397 | 78.3 | 236 | 74.7 | 115 | 83.9 | 40 | 85.1 | 6 | 85.7 | 0.087*** |
 (ii) Incorrect | 110 | 21.7 | 80 | 25.3 | 22 | 16.1 | 7 | 14.9 | 1 | 14.3 | |