Introduction Adherence to supportive periodontal care (SPC) is essential for preventing disease recurrence and maintaining oral health. Psychological and emotional support from family members may play a vital role in sustaining long-term adherence, yet the influence of family function on SPC adherence and outcomes remains underexplored. Objective To evaluate the impact of family function on adherence to SPC and its subsequent effect on periodontal prognosis. Methods This retrospective study included 400 patients aged 20–73 years who received active periodontal therapy between January 2018 and January 2020 and entered SPC for at least one year. Family functioning was assessed using the Apgar score. Patient adherence was evaluated based on adherence to scheduled follow-up visits within a 3-month period. Clinical parameters, including probing depth and bleeding on probing, were recorded at baseline and follow-up visits. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between family functioning, patient adherence, and treatment outcomes. Results The regular adherence group had an adherence rate of 38%, and their family care index was significantly higher than that of the irregular group (9.58 ± 0.58 vs. 9.00 ± 0.90, p < .01). Both groups showed improvements in periodontal prognosis following SPC ( p < .01). Patients with a higher family care index exhibited better adherence, with a more pronounced improvement in prognosis ( p < .01). Logistic regression analysis identified gender (odds ratio OR = 2.730, 95% CI 1.683, 4.430, p < .01), age (OR = 0.999, 95% CI 0.970, 1.02, p < .01), and orthodontic history (OR = 7.941, 95% CI 1.497, 42.116, p < .05) as significant factors influencing SPC adherence. Conclusion Patients with higher family function scores demonstrate better adherence with SPC, resulting in more favorable treatment outcomes. The involvement of family members plays a critical role in enhancing patient adherence to treatment protocols, thereby improving both oral health and overall quality of life.
Lu et al. (2025) studied this question.