Patient satisfaction over changing dental treatment trends during COVID-19 pandemic-a cross-sectional study

Aalap Sureshkumar Prajapati; Pinal Kirankumar Solanki; Vasudha Sodani; Harsh Shah; Kavish Gurjar; Ruchi Patel

doi:10.4103/aihb.aihb_133_21

Users Online: 599

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : 2022 | Volume : 12 | Issue : 2 | Page : 168-173

Patient satisfaction over changing dental treatment trends during COVID-19 pandemic-a cross-sectional study

Aalap Sureshkumar Prajapati¹, Pinal Kirankumar Solanki¹, Vasudha Sodani², Harsh Shah³, Kavish Gurjar⁴, Ruchi Patel⁵
¹ Department of Dentistry, Pramukh Swami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat, India
² Department of Pedodontics, Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
³ Department of Preventive Dentistry, Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
⁴ Private Dental Practitioner, Fellow of American Academy of Implant Dentistry, United States
⁵ Department of Prosthodontics and Implantology, Ahmedabad Dental College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Correspondence Address:
Aalap Sureshkumar Prajapati
Department of Dentistry, Pramukh Swami Medical College, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad- Gujarat
India

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

Check

DOI: 10.4103/aihb.aihb_133_21

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 and Methods: 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] [PDF]*

Table of Contents

Similar in PUBMED

Search Pubmed for

Search in Google Scholar for

Related articles

Citation Manager

Access Statistics

Reader Comments

Email Alert *

Add to My List *

* Requires registration (Free)

Article Access Statistics

Viewed	905

Printed	50

Emailed	0

PDF Downloaded	113

Comments	[Add]