Cultural and communicational traits of oral health care: results of a Finnish case study.
OBJECTIVE
This paper aims to describe the cultural and communicational traits of Finnish oral health care. First, employees' views and experiences regarding their organization and their position within it are investigated and, second, relations between different individual and organizational factors are analyzed. Finally, a conceptual framework of organizational coherence is constructed.


METHODS
The paper shows that data collection (n = 58, 84 percent response rate) was carried out in 2002 at a Finnish dental clinic by using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed statistically by using, among other things, non-parametric tests and a structural equation model (LISREL) and qualitatively by using content analysis.


RESULTS
The paper finds that the organization was described as role-dependent and task-centered. Unidirectional chain of communication and responsibility for interaction were observed as the descriptive traits of communication, regardless of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the communication. Developmental challenges involved opportunities to exert influence in the organization as well as giving and receiving feedback in leadership relations. It was found that a good sense of one's position in the organization was positively associated with several essential experiences (e.g. confidence, openness and equality), regarding organizational factors.


CONCLUSIONS
It appears in this paper likely that, by adopting the perspective of organizational coherence, it will be possible to approach the reality of an oral health care organization. As such a new and informative perspective is added.
Kasila
Kirsti
K
Research Center for Health Promotion, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland. kirsti.kasila@sport.jyu.fi
Poskiparta
Marita
M
Villberg
Jari
J
D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking; D003142:Communication; D003726:Dental Assistants / Q000523:psychology*; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D003797:Dental Staff / Q000523:psychology*; D005387:Finland; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008875:Middle Aged; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D015279:Organizational Culture; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D024382:Professional Role; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards