Evaluation of contentedness of patients over the services provided by comprehensive oral health care system

Introduction: Satisfaction of the patient with dental treatment provides an important aspect of quality of treatment and determines the future utilization of services. Fulfillment of patient expectation and demands as well as positive assurance, good responses to patient as well as resolve confusions and doubts of the patient provides better satisfaction and result in a future return of the patients to receive subsequent good quality of treatment. Feedback on contentedness regarding dental care is vital for continuous improvement of the service delivery process and outcome. Aim of present study: To explore satisfaction of patients associated with dentist and dental practice set up. Material and Methods: The present study included 1000 patients out of which 921 forms were evaluated. They were asked to tick appropriate options for 24 questions of the feedback form. These were tabulated and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: Among the 921 study subjects, 493 (53.5%) were males, and 428 (46.4%) were females. The overall report in terms of response was good & agree (79.1%), fair & neutral (20.8%), poor & disagree (0.1%). Based on main factors patients expressed maximum satisfaction patient–dentist interaction, (88.2%) and least with technical competency (50%) and moderate with administrative and clinic setup (66%). Conclusion: Though the responses were not high but they were satisfactory. Hence further improvement in all aspects and especially regarding aseptic instruments and waiting area to be considered for further utilization. By conducting such study one can be able to understand the difference between patients demands and patients satisfaction. This is the only study conducted on large sample size in category of studies related to patient satisfaction.