title: Patient preferences in selecting a dentist: survey results from the urban population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Awareness of gender- or nationality-driven preconceptions can help dentists to have a better interpretation of the dentist-patient relationship. It is even more noteworthy to understand these predilections in Saudi society, where women and men are usually segregated due to religion- and culture-based considerations. This study is one of the first to explore the preferences of patients when selecting a dentist with respect to gender and nationality in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  
  A total of 445 community residents residing in Riyadh were randomly selected for a cross-sectional study. The participants completed a survey designed to assess which of two factors (gender and/or nationality) were perceived as most relevant in choosing a dentist. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 11.5 software.
  
  
  
  Female participants did not show any preference for the gender of the dentist, whereas 40% of the male participants preferred a male dentist. Participants also favored male dentists in the felds of oral surgery (78.9%), implants (74.1%), endodontics (67.5%), orthodontics (65.8%) and prosthodontics (64.2%). An exception was noted in pediatric dentistry, for which female dentists were favored by 52.8% of the participants. Additionally, most (66.1%) participants did not have any preference for the nationality of the dentist.
  
  
  
  Riyadh residents showed a general preference for a male dentist but demonstrated no preference for nationality when selecting a dentist.
authors.affiliation: Consultant, Department of Dental Health, Dental Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, PO Box 92093, Riyadh 11673, Saudi Arabia, e-mail: sbinhuraib1@kus.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Sahar Bin
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Huraib
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nadia Al
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Nahas
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hana O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Al-Balbeesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Alyamamah Hospital, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Faida Moawia
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Abu-Aljadayl
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Health, Dental Biomaterials Research Chair, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Sajith
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vellappally
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Anil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sukumaran
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001290:Attitude; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015921:Dental Implants; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D000072218:Endodontists; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066794:Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons; D000066792:Orthodontists; D057240:Patient Preference; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D011476:Prosthodontics; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants
keywords: Dentist-patient relationship; Dentist, Gender preference; Saudi Arabia; Patient satisfaction; Specialties.