The importance of having the opportunity to communicate with the dentist, from the patient’s perspective

Abstract

Most medical acts have, as a common and necessary element, the communication between the doctor and the patient, which considerably increases the quality of the interaction between them. The patient needs to understand the importance of having the opportunity to talk to the dentist. The present statistical study was conducted on 194 subjects (113 female subjects and 81 male subjects), aged between 20 and 50 years, in two dental practices: one in Alba Iulia and the other in Targu Mures. The purpose is to determine the patients’ qualities, from the following perspectives: good or poor listener, compliant, obedient, having efficient or inefficient communicating skills. The subjects of the study were asked a set of questions from a questionnaire which highlights the confirmation or dismissal of the proposed objectives. The results will show us to what extent the patients appreciate the opportunity to communicate with the dentist. At the same time, the patients’ qualities which recommend them as participants in an optimal communication process will be highlighted.

Keywords

• communication opportunity
• patient compliance / adherence
• efficient / inefficient communication