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Updated: Jul 20, 2026
07:57
Accuracy in Dental Medicine, A New Way to Measure Trueness and Precision
Published on: April 29, 2014
Qualitative techniques to investigate how patients evaluate dentists: a pilot study
1Faculty of Dentistry, University of Hong Kong, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun. newsome@hkucc.hku.hk
Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology
|July 20, 2000
Summary
Patient satisfaction with dental care is complex, involving more than just perceptions. This study reveals that patient expectations and attributions of
Area of Science:
- Dental patient experience
- Healthcare consumer behavior
- Psychological theories in healthcare
Background:
- Traditional models view patient satisfaction as solely based on perceptions.
- A more nuanced understanding is needed to explain patient evaluation processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate patient satisfaction as a complex process.
- To explore the roles of 'disconfirmation of expectations' and 'attribution' theories in patient evaluation.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study using four focus groups with 25 adult participants (16 women, 9 men; mean age 43.8).
- Participants had received dental treatment within the past 12 months.
Main Results:
- Patient perceptions of dental practice alone do not fully explain dentist evaluations.
- Disconfirmation of expectations is a key part of the evaluation process.
- Patients use 'duty' and 'culpability' attributions to determine satisfaction or dissatisfaction.
Conclusions:
- Understanding patient satisfaction requires considering factors beyond perceptions, including expectations and desires.
- Disconfirmation and attribution theories are significant and warrant further research in patient satisfaction.
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