Differences in dimensions of satisfaction with private and public dental care among children

Abstract

<h4>Unlabelled</h4>Measures of patient satisfaction have application in understanding patient behaviour, and in evaluating dental providers, services, and facilities. Further, differences in delivery systems may be reflected in variation between the component dimensions of satisfaction.<h4>Aim</h4>The aim of this study was to compare perceptions of satisfaction with care provided by the School Dental Service (SDS) and private dentists.<h4>Design</h4>A three-stage cross-sectional survey was conducted during 1993-94. This analysis is based on Stage 2 of the study (n=2,792 participants, response rate=78.0%).<h4>Setting</h4>Schools in metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia.<h4>Participants</h4>Parents and schoolchildren.<h4>Interventions/methods</h4>Mailed self-complete questionnaires.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>The Dental Satisfaction Index (DSI) and component subscales.<h4>Results</h4>Overall satisfaction using the DSI showed no significant difference between SDS users and users of private dental care. Parents of children using the SDS had lower satisfaction scores for 'general satisfaction', 'quality', 'access', and 'continuity', but had higher satisfaction scores for the dimensions of 'cost' and 'availability' (OLS regression; P<0.01). These patterns of satisfaction with dental care by provider group persisted after controlling for time since last visit, parental education level, insurance status, occupation and language spoken (OLS regression; P<0.05). This may reflect a counter-balancing of dimensions of satisfaction across provider groups resulting in no significant difference in the DSI.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Overall satisfaction was high and did not vary by provider group, but there was variation in the component dimensions of satisfaction.