Patient Satisfaction Over Changing Dental Treatment Trends During COVID-19 Pandemic-A Cross-Sectional Study
Advances in Human Biology
; 12(2):168-173, 2022.
Article
in English
| Web of Science | ID: covidwho-2155510
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Patient satisfaction in health care describes the degree to which patients' needs 'meet their expectations and provide an acceptable standard of care'. Therefore, their opinion should be incorporated to understand factors affecting patients' satisfaction with the health-care setting. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant challenge for the field of dentistry owing to its working characteristics. It is difficult for dentists to provide optimum satisfaction to patients receiving dental care with such changes proposed. A study aiming to evaluate the patient's satisfaction receiving treatment in the Department of Dentistry during the pandemic was planned. Materials andMethods:
A cross-sectional observational study from September to November 2020 was conducted. A self-administered printed questionnaire drafted in English/Gujarati was provided to 225 patients on completion of their dental treatment. Thirteen close-ended questions were included in determining the patient's satisfaction. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to describe the parameters of the questionnaire. The Chi-square test was used to find a significant association between parameters, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results:
About 74.3% of the participants were satisfied with dentist-patient communication. Positive response (80%) by patients where they were able to get an appointment as per their suitability and were informed in advance by the department if there were any changes. One hundred and sixty-eight (84%) patients responded that the waiting area was hygienic. One hundred and thirty-seven (68.5%) patients assured that their arrival was intimated to the respective dentist by supporting staff and that they were taken into an operatory for treatment within 10 min of arrival. Participants said that they were informed about the delay from their allotted appointment schedule with reasons;hence, better compliance (79%) was obtained from them.Conclusions:
This cross-sectional study indicated that with proper communication, a positive response by participants over satisfaction was obtained even due to changing treatment patterns due to pandemic.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
Web of Science
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Journal:
Advances in Human Biology
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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