Psychometric Utility in Determining Dental Organizational Attribute: A Cross Sectional Study in Ghaziabad, India

Psychometrics is the field of research involved with the objective measurement of finesse and intelligence, skills, temperament, personality traits, and educational success and technique of psychological measurement. Oral healthcare along with patient satisfaction and quality of care are main factors responsible for organizational attribute. Patient safety is relatively emerging domain which will result in improving patient's conditions without causing harm to them.

To assess the psychometric behaviours as well as organization attribute with the help of modified version of Survey of Organizational Attributes for Primary Care (SOAPC) instrument among the dental care practitioners in Ghaziabad city, Uttar Pradesh, India.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 268 dental practitioner of Ghaziabad city to determine psychometric behaviours and organizational attributes using SOADC instrument. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 18.0 and was subjected to descriptive and Mann-Whitney U test.

Of the 268 dental practitioner, only 249 completed questionnaires. In communication, 70.3% agreed that they have constructive work relationship with staff with an overall mean score of 3.54±0.15, whereas in the subscale decision making, stress/chaos and history of change, the mean score of 2.77±0.98, 2.56±0.80 and 3.25±0.21 respectively were obtained. A statistical significant difference was noted between all the dimensions except stress/chaos and history of change (p≤0.05).

SOADC can be used to assess psychometric behaviours and organizational attributes of dental care practice. Preference should be given to dentist's communication and reducing stress to enhance the service quality and improving safety of patient.