The dentist-patient relationship: Perceptions of patient needs.
Item
-
Title
-
The dentist-patient relationship: Perceptions of patient needs.
-
Identifier
-
AAI9000669
-
identifier
-
9000669
-
Creator
-
Angello, Mary L.
-
Contributor
-
Adviser: Lindsey Churchill
-
Date
-
1989
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Sociology, General | Health Sciences, Dentistry
-
Abstract
-
This research examines the dentist-patient relationship utilizing data collected from twenty-one private dental offices and 276 dental patients who participated in a dental quality assurance project. The findings of this study support several hypotheses: (1) various dental patient types can be found in a dental practice; (2) the dental practitioner recognizes the needs of these patient types and attempts to satisfy them through his/her work and chairside talk. (3) the mutual participation model as described by Szasz and Hollender can be used to examine the dentist-patient relationship.;Two dental patient types, Comfort Needs and Esthetic Needs are identified. An Oral Disability Index classified 92 patients as Comfort Needs and 39 patients as Esthetic Needs. Comfort Needs patients are more likely to be female, 51 years of age or older, have a high school education or less and a family income of under {dollar}20,000. The average Esthetic Needs patient is also most likely female, 31 to 50 years of age, has a college background and a family income of \{dollar}35,000 or over. The utilization of dental services was examined and notes Comfort Needs patients rank restorative services first, then diagnostic and preventive services. Esthetic Needs patients rank fixed prosthetic services first, followed by diagnostic and restorative services.;An analysis of chairside conversations indicates the dentist identifies each dental patient type and uses talk to develop a relationship. Both dentist and patient use ties (direct/indirect remarks) which relate to pain or esthetics to achieve cohesiveness in the conversation. Evidence shows chairside talk functions to initiate and sustain a sense of continuity of dental care. Several theoretical models are used to explore the dentist-patient relationship. This study substantiates that the creation of an atmosphere in which patient needs are expressed and addressed is an important element of the dentist-patient relationship.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
