Financing of dental services in Turkey: opinions and expectations of dentists, residents, and patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigates the attitudes of dentists, residents, and patients on the financing of dental services in Turkey.


METHODS
In this descriptive study, randomly selected groups of 860 dentists, 641 patients, and 866 residents from 9 provinces of Turkey were interviewed. Their agreement on various statements on financing issues of dental services were recorded and analyzed.


RESULTS
Eighty-two percent of the dentists, 83.8 percent of the patients, and 76.4 percent of the residents agreed that "governments should finance all dental services." The majority of the dentists (83.6%), patients (74.7%), and residents (84.4%) stated that patients should pay a copayment for their dental treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Survey results indicate that the current financing system of dental services in Turkey is not satisfactory either for the providers or for the users.
Hayran
Osman
O
Faculty of Medicine, University of Marmara, Istanbul, Turkey.
Mumcu
Gonca
G
Sur
Haydar
H
Yildirim
Celal
C
Söylemez
Didem
D
Atli
Hakki
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D003815:Dentists; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics; D005381:Financing, Organized / Q000191:economics*; D005382:Financing, Personal / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011639:Public Opinion; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms / Q000191:economics; D012737:Sex Factors; D014421:Turkey