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Evaluating Trust in the Patient-Dentist Relationship: A Mixed-Method Study.
1School of Dental Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
JDR Clinical and Translational Research
|April 18, 2022
Summary
Study participants reported moderate trust in dental providers. Dentists build patient trust through effective communication and understanding social determinants of health, crucial for a strong dentist-patient relationship.
Area of Science:
- Dental Public Health
- Health Services Research
- Patient-Provider Communication
Background:
- Understanding patient trust in dental providers is essential for effective healthcare delivery.
- Trust-building strategies are key to establishing and maintaining a positive dentist-patient relationship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess patient trust levels in dental providers.
- To identify trust-building practices employed by dentists.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods approach combining the 11-item Dental Trust Scale (DTS) questionnaire with semistructured interviews.
- Quantitative analysis of DTS scores from 150 participants and qualitative thematic analysis of 7 dentists' interviews.
Main Results:
- The overall mean dental trust score was 3.4, with good internal consistency for the DTS (α = 0.93).
- Participants with a regular dentist reported significantly higher dental trust.
- Key trust-building strategies identified were effective communication and consideration of patients' social determinants of health.
Conclusions:
- The study highlights the importance of communication and understanding patient context in fostering dental trust.
- Findings offer practical insights for dentists to enhance patient relationships and trust in clinical practice.
