title: Satisfaction with dental care and its role in dental health-related behaviour among lithuanian university employees.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess factors related to satisfaction with dental care and its role in dental health-related behaviour among Lithuanian university employees.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our cross-sectional survey collected data on respondents' satisfaction with dental care using 24 statements. The self-administered questionnaire also inquired about dental attendance, dental health-related behaviour and attitudes, self-assessed dental status and background details. All 35- to 44-year-old employees (n = 862) of four universities in Lithuania were invited to participate; 64% (n = 553) responded, 78% of them were women. Statements on satisfaction with technical, personal and organisational dimensions of the dental surgery were assessed using a five-point scale, ranging from entirely agree to entirely disagree, with higher scores indicating stronger agreement. Overall satisfaction scores were summed and subjects divided into tertiles to evaluate dental health-related behaviour. For the logistic regression model, subjects were divided into two groups of satisfaction level (below and above the mean of the sum score).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects were highly satisfied with dental care, with the mean sum score being 99.5 (SD = 12.62, range 59-120). Stronger satisfaction was reported by those visiting private practices (p < 0.001) and the same dentist longer (p = 0.006) and by those who entirely agreed with the statements on dental health-related attitudes (p ≤ 0.001). The logistic regression model showed that higher satisfaction with dental care level was more likely for those who indicated check-up-based regular dental attendance (OR = 1.7) and brushing their teeth at least twice daily (OR = 1.6).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Satisfaction with dental care is positively related to individuals' dental health-related attitudes and behaviour among highly-educated subjects in particular.
authors: Zana
authors: Z
authors: Sakalauskienė
authors: Vita
authors: V
authors: Machiulskiene
authors: Heikki
authors: H
authors: Murtomaa
authors: Miira M
authors: MM
authors: Vehkalahti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003729:Dental Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004651:Employment; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011331:Private Practice; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities