Evaluation of patients' satisfaction referred to Dentistry Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2003

Evaluation of patients' satisfaction referred to Dentistry Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2003 Dr. H. Razmi * - Dr. M. Jafari Talari ** *- Assistant Professor of Endodontics Dept. - Faculty of Dentistry – Tehran University of Medical Sciences. **- Dentist. Background and Aim: Evaluation based on satisfaction is one of the evaluative indices, paid attention recently in hospitals and treatment organizations. The goal of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction rate of patients referred to Dentistry Faculty of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This analytical – descriptive study was conducted cross – sectionaly on 550 patients who referred to different departments of dentistry faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2003. Data were collected using a questionnaire consisted of two parts. The first part was related to personal and demographic characteristics of patients and the second part was related to research goals consisted of 18 questions included in 7 sections on subjects such as: satisfaction rate of admission procedure, the type of secretary behaviour toward patients, hygiene and infection control. Students' behaviour, professors' supervision, treatment expenses and general satisfaction of all procedures. Data were subjected to SPSS software and chi 2 test for statistical analysis. Results: Totally 57.8% of the patient referred to the Dental Faculty, Tehran University of Medical Sciences were fully satisfied with the delivered services, 25.8% were relatively satisfied, however 16.4% were dissatisfied. A significant relationship was found between the rate of patients' satisfaction with insurance (P=0.011), admission procedures (P=0.019), student behaviour (P=0.0001), professors' supervision (P=0.0001), and treatments cost (P=0.0001). Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, it is indicated that the satisfaction rate of patients referred to Tehran Faculty of Dentistry, despite all weaknesses and shortages in the delivery of services, is estimated at an approximately desirable level. Key words: Satisfaction – Dental services – Patient – Tehran Faculty of Dentistry.