Factors influencing patient loyalty to dentist and dental practice.
OBJECTIVE
To establish the factors considered by adult regular dental attenders to be the most important in choosing to stay with a particular dentist or practice.


METHODS
An anonymous questionnaire to be completed by patients.


METHODS
General dental practices in England and Wales with a significant proportion of patients seen under some form of private contract.


METHODS
13 practices in England and Wales were selected to represent a regional cross-section of the country. Up to 100 successive patients visiting each practice during the summer of 1995 were invited to complete the questionnaire. 1003 questionnaires were returned.


RESULTS
Notwithstanding regional, gender and socio-economic status related differences the most important factors were 'care and attention' rated as very important by 90% of respondents, 'pain control, 'dentist puts you at ease ', 'safety conscious' all rated as very important by 79-82% of respondents, and 'explanation of treatments' rated as very important by 73% of respondents. The importance attached to the dentist being 'safety conscious' suggests a change in emphasis from earlier studies.


CONCLUSIONS
The factors rated most important reflect the dentist's behaviour and personal skills in devoting time and attention to the patient.
Holt
V P
VP
Denplan Ltd, Winchester.
McHugh
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001290:Attitude; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002755:Choice Behavior; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011331:Private Practice; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales