General method for analysing dentist-patient interaction.
The interaction between dentist and patient during dental treatment may influence the frequency of dental visits in the future because this interaction may increase the dental fear of the patient. To find the characteristics of the dentist's behavior that increase or decrease dental fear a statistical analysis of the interaction may be used. Data of such interactions are known as time series. Because it is highly probable that the behavior of an individual at two different points in time is autocorrelated a correct statistical analysis of the interaction between dentist and patient must take this possibility into account. A general statistical method is proposed that can take autocorrelations into account. The method is compared with a simpler method that may not deal adequately with autocorrelations.
Department of Social Dentistry, ACTA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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H
Verheij
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ter Horst
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Prins
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Veerkamp
D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003729:Dental Care / Q000523:psychology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D005239:Fear; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D008960:Models, Psychological; D011336:Probability; D013997:Time Factors