Abstract
The purpose of this survey was to elucidate the patient satisfaction and behaviors towards the regular dental check-ups with focus on preventive care in 39 private dental clinics.
The sample of 9,024 patients was surveyed using questionnaire sheets distributed at private dental clinics. The number of sheets collected was 5,129 and the response rate was 56.8%.
The results were summarized as follows:
1) The dental clinics participated in this survey were characterized as higher number of dental hygienists and higher number of patients visits in a day compared with the
national average.
2) The typical patients, who participated in our survey, were women, with age below 14 years old and 40-49 years old, whose occupation were students or civil servants.
3) The factor, which showed the strongest correlation with the patients' adherence to the regular visit, was the technical competence of hygienists. And the strength of the correlation of it was twice as much as technical competence of the dentist.
4) Treatment fee, appointment system, stuff members' attitude, however, are patients' priority to be improved towards enhanced the satisfaction.
