title: Correlation between patient satisfaction and dental clinic credibility in regular dental check-ups in Japan.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental clinic credibility and patient satisfaction with regular dental check-ups, to compare the level of satisfaction of patients who had regular check-ups with those who did not, and to identify factors associated with regular dental checkups. Thirty-nine private dental clinics in 17 prefectures throughout Japan participated in this study. A total of 9024 questionnaires were distributed to the patients at these clinics, and patients returned the questionnaires using a pre-paid envelope (response rate 56.8%). The questionnaires consisted of items related to patient demographics and 11 items concerning the level of patient satisfaction with the dental clinic. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, the strongest correlation was found between dental clinic credibility in regular checkups and the technical competence of the dentist. The responses to those items concerning making an appointment, and the cleanliness and neatness of the waiting room were different between patients who had regular check-ups and those who did not. To investigate the factors that encourage regular dental check-ups, correlation of factors with regular check up experience were analyzed. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios indicated a strong association between regular dental check ups and both the technical competence of the dental hygienist and the cost of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Health, Department of Health Science, Kanagawa Dental College, Kanagawa, Japan. tamaki@kdcnet.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Fusao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nishikawara
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motegi
authors.forename: Kayo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Teraoka
authors.forename: Hirohisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arakawa
authors.forename: Akihisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsurumoto
authors.forename: Nobuhiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hanada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires