BACKGROUND: Most clinical studies in dentistry are conducted in university-based settings. However, whether findings can be generalized to private dental practices is not clear. Aims of this study were to determine patients' criteria for choosing a dentist, and to assess whether criteria differ between patients in university dental clinic and private dental practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 300 subjects involving dental patients of a university dental clinic and private dental practices, and subjects from general population (each n=100) were included. Criteria for choosing a dentist were assessed with a 31-item questionnaire, covering socio-demographic characteristics, qualifications, psychosocial skills, practice structure, practice offers, and accessibility, with a 6-point ordinal rating scale ranging from "very crucial"-(5) to "not crucial at all"-(0). RESULTS: A total of 189 subjects (63%) provided completed questionnaires for analyses. Dentists' psychosocial skills (mean 4.4) were rated as most important when choosing a dentist, whereas socio-demographic characteristics were of almost no significance (mean 1.0). Significant differences between settings were observed only for practice offers and accessibility with highest ratings in university setting. However, after controlling for potential confounders, ratings differed only slightly and not statistically significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists' psychosocial skills appear to be most important criteria for choosing a dentist. Setting-related differences in criteria seem to be likely but obviously result from differences in socio-demographic characteristics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
BACKGROUND: Most clinical studies in dentistry are conducted in university-based settings. However, whether findings can be generalized to private dental practices is not clear. Aims of this study were to determine patients' criteria for choosing a dentist, and to assess whether criteria differ between patients in university dental clinic and private dental practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 300 subjects involving dental patients of a university dental clinic and private dental practices, and subjects from general population (each n=100) were included. Criteria for choosing a dentist were assessed with a 31-item questionnaire, covering socio-demographic characteristics, qualifications, psychosocial skills, practice structure, practice offers, and accessibility, with a 6-point ordinal rating scale ranging from "very crucial"-(5) to "not crucial at all"-(0). RESULTS: A total of 189 subjects (63%) provided completed questionnaires for analyses. Dentists' psychosocial skills (mean 4.4) were rated as most important when choosing a dentist, whereas socio-demographic characteristics were of almost no significance (mean 1.0). Significant differences between settings were observed only for practice offers and accessibility with highest ratings in university setting. However, after controlling for potential confounders, ratings differed only slightly and not statistically significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Dentists' psychosocial skills appear to be most important criteria for choosing a dentist. Setting-related differences in criteria seem to be likely but obviously result from differences in socio-demographic characteristics. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Authors: Ina Nitschke; Thomas Ulbrich; Annett Schrock; Werner Hopfenmüller; Julia Jockusch Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2022-07-15 Impact factor: 4.614
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