A review of satisfaction with dental service at a Jerusalem community clinic serving elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
The audit of dental satisfaction and its association with the reported outcome of a dental health care programme for elderly patients.


METHODS
A telephone survey of 162 patients in a Jerusalem municipal dental clinic for geriatric patients, who had completed a treatment course in oral rehabilitation.


RESULTS
The average age of the respondents was 73.2 +/- 8.45 years, over 80% of who were very satisfied or satisfied with the treatment given by the dental clinic staff. Only 1.8% were not satisfied (the remaining 17.9% were unable to answer the question). Among those who responded, 91.6% were currently using their full dentures, 80.4% reported an improvement in chewing ability, and 82.3% an improvement in appearance. Respondents who reported daily use of dentures and improved chewing and appearance, also reported higher levels of satisfaction with the clinic.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate a potentially important role of satisfaction with dental staff in optimal compliance and success of a geriatric oral health care programme.
Sgan-Cohen
H D
HD
Community Dentistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
Mansbach
I K
IK
Haver
D
D
Mann
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D003740:Dental Clinics; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007557:Israel; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012923:Social Class; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome