Exploring Predictors of Patient Satisfaction in Dental Services: A Secondary Analysis Study

Abstract

Mohammed S Aldossary,1 Eman H Ismail,2 Mashael M Almutawaa,3 Shahad M Alhajri,1 Afnan M Almuaddi,1 Mervat M El Dalatony1,4 1General Directorate of Research and Studies, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2Clinical Dental Science Department, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry and Nursing, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Public Health & Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shibin El Kom, Menoufia Governorate, EgyptCorrespondence: Eman H Ismail, Clinical Science Department, College of Dentistry, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Airport Road, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: Understanding the factors that influence the level of patient satisfaction with dental services and identifying the strengths and weaknesses in dental clinics will subsequently increase patient satisfaction and contribute to improving dental care quality. This study aims to evaluate the variables that impact patients’ satisfaction with dental services received in specialized dental care centers of the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia.Patients and Methods: Secondary data at the national level from a patient experience program were used in this study. Completed Press Ganey® surveys submitted by patients during the first half of 2022 were included. The effect of the different domains (access to dental clinic, moving through dental visit and dentist) on the overall assessment rating of patient satisfaction was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) and multiple linear regression models.Results: A total of 964 surveys were completed and subsequently analyzed. The overall assessment rate of patient satisfaction was 73.4%. All items of the domains showed highly significant correlation levels (P < 0.001). However, the Dentist domain exhibited the highest correlation with the overall assessment rate of ‎patient satisfaction.Conclusion: The dentist acts as the most significant predictor of patient satisfaction.Keywords: patient satisfaction, patient-centered care, quality of health care, Saudi Arabia

Keywords

• patient satisfaction
• patient-centered care
• quality of health care
• saudi arabia