Method: A randomly generated list of numbers were generated each day to determine at which clinics and chairs the student doctors and patients would be asked to participate in this study. Student doctor compliance was assessed by written notes in the patients’ charts. Patient compliance was determined through verbal response to open ended questions in surveys. The responses were then categorized and analyzed through the computer program SPSS.
Result: Of those surveyed and eligible for the study, 87 patients had OHI noted in their chart and only 61 of those reported hearing oral hygiene home care instructions. Overall, only 94 patients reported hearing oral hygiene instruction, 21 reported none were given and 14 didn’t remember. Of those who heard instruction, 81 followed instructions, 9 followed some, 6 used to follow directions and 4 never followed them.
Conclusion: These results suggest that there is room for improvement in student doctor-patient compliance. Further studies in methods to increase such compliance to protocols for caries risk treatments should be determined, tested for efficacy and implemented.