Validation of communication between elderly denture wearers and dentists: a questionnaire on satisfaction with...

To validate a semi-structured interview (SSI) for communication between complete denture wearers and dentists.

A SSI using a questionnaire with eight questions on satisfaction with complete dentures (CD): covering function, aesthetics and comfort. The first seven questions used a five-point Likert scale and the last was dichotomous. Two dentists, carefully trained in the use of the structured questionnaire, administered the SSI.

A Greek Department of Prosthetic Dentistry.

A consecutive sample of 78 CD wearers took part in the study. All subjects presented with complaints from their dentures.

All participants and their dentures underwent clinical examination.

The method showed good reliability, verified by the Cronbach alpha (0.86). Both dentists used the questionnaire produced very similar results. (Wilcoxon test 61-99%). Further, the association of the answers with respect to the five-point Likert scale was very high; all gamma coefficients were statistically significant except for pain and discomfort from the upper CD (CDU).

This method of communication between patients and dentists is reliable and can be used to give good repeatability for qualitatively assessing satisfaction with CD. It can be valuable for clinical use and for extending the study of denture quality to establish outcome measures based on the subjective criteria of satisfaction.