Employability of patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) in dentistry: a scoping review

Introduction Patient experience (PE) is gauged by patient-reported experience measures (PREMs), which assist dentists in evaluating the quality of dental care, thereby improving patients' perceptions of dental treatments. However, PREMs are unevenly implemented in dentistry. Hence, a scoping review is required to comprehend their applicability in dental practice.Aim To identify the trends, highlight the gaps and challenges in the employability of PREMs in various dental specialities.Methodology Google Scholar, Scopus and Web of Science databases were used. Using the eligibility criteria, suitable records were exported, and data were organised in Excel. Results were reported using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) criteria.Results In total, 26 articles were reviewed, with the majority of studies conducted in the United Kingdom. Most articles had a cross-sectional study design. Studies predominantly had an adult population and female participants. Customised questionnaires developed by using dimensions from generic PREMs were commonly used.Conclusion The employability of PREMs in dentistry reflects inconsistencies. Therefore, there is a need to create a standardised dental PREMs tool that would help to establish a benchmark for collecting PE in dentistry.