The ordering of smokers' criteria in choosing toothpaste with fuzzy dematel model

Abstract

Aim Smokers give more harm to tooth and mouth flora than non-smokers. These conditions can affect the decision of smokers when buying toothpaste. Unlike non-smokers, expectations of toothpaste can vary. Regarding these, the aim of this study is to show which criteria are important to smokers in choosing toothpaste for dental health or related problems. These criteria are sorted according to their importance with the model to be applied. Methods The model applied in this study is Fuzzy DEMATEL (Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) model. The model was used to determine the importance values of the criteria for toothpaste selection. The data were obtained from patients who smoked and who applied to outpatient clinic of Dokuz Eylül University Family Medicine Department. Results To put the toothpaste criteria in order of importance, the criterion selection results of smokers were taken from individual patients. With the data, the criteria in choosing toothpaste were sorted from the most to the least important with the Fuzzy DEMATEL model. Conclusions Today's personal care products directly affect the health of the individual. When providing these products, users consider not only the criteria for being healthy but also many other criteria. This effect is also observed in toothpaste, which is a specific product. The most important criterion in choosing toothpaste is that people have important data about dental care. Finding people’s most important criteria in choosing toothpaste, important data about people’s dental care are obtained.

Keywords

• fuzzy DEMATEL
• tooth paste selection
• multiple criteria decision making