Objectives: to investigate whether there were any differences in patient satisfaction after a visit to a therapist, compared to a visit to a dentist.
Method: A 10-item scale of patient satisfaction (Dental Visit Satisfaction Scale), which provides an outcome measure of overall patient satisfaction as well as three sub-scale outcomes (information-communication; understanding-acceptance; technical competence) was used. Forty questionnaires were given to consecutive patients attending an appointment with a therapist and 40 questionnaires were given to patients attending dentists, in six different dental practices. In a further two practices, with no dental therapist, 40 questionnaires were given to patients.
Results: 431 (67.3%) questionnaires were returned. Patients attending therapists were found to have a significantly higher level of overall satisfaction (p<0.001) and also in all three sub-scales (p<0.001), than those attending appointments with dentists.
Conclusion: Although a clear distinction in patient satisfaction according to the type of provider was found, the reasons behind this finding are unclear, and so care needs to be taken in interpreting the results, with further work undertaken to explore this phenomenon more fully.
External funding: Externally funded by Central Lancashire PCT and North West Strategic Health Authority.