Audit in orthodontic practice: how well do we communicate with our referring practitioners?

Area of Science:

• Dental Practice
• Patient Referral Systems
• Communication in Healthcare

Background:

• Effective communication between referring dentists and specialist practices is crucial for optimal patient care.
• Previous assessments of communication methods in dental referral pathways are limited.
• Understanding practitioner satisfaction is key to refining referral processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the satisfaction levels of dental practitioners with current communication methods used by a specialist dental practice.
• To identify specific areas of satisfaction and dissatisfaction in the referral communication process.
• To gather suggestions for improving communication between referring dentists and specialist services.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was distributed to 102 dental practitioners who refer patients to the specialist practice.
• A response rate of 83% (85 practitioners) was achieved.
• The survey assessed satisfaction with information on treatment decisions, progress, extraction letters, and oral surgery referrals.

Main Results:

• 72% of respondents felt sufficiently informed about treatment decisions and progress.
• High satisfaction was reported regarding extraction letter arrangements and direct oral surgery referrals.
• 46% noted patient attendance lapses in orthodontic treatment, and 40% requested more waiting list information.

Conclusions:

• While communication regarding oral surgery referrals is generally satisfactory, improvements are needed in informing referring dentists about orthodontic treatment progress and waiting lists.
• A significant portion of referring practitioners (34%) believe communication could be enhanced.
• Addressing these specific communication gaps can improve the overall referral experience and patient management.