Background: Patient-Centred Care (PCC) is recognised as one of the key domains in measuring quality within health care, with patient feedback playing an increasingly important role in assessing the level of service delivered. This has been developed within the general medical services in the UK through the Quality Outcomes Framework and a similar model within general dental practice is currently being piloted. Measurement of PCC as an indicator of quality will be highly relevant within the new Dental Quality Outcomes Framework (DQOF), but before we can consider measuring, we must define and understand what we aim to measure.
Methods: A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to identify the features of PCC relevant to dentistry and ascertain the current evidence base underpinning the DQOF.
Results: 30 papers were identified which met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 4 key papers were identified which provided an evidence base to support an understanding of the key features of PCC within dentistry. None of the key papers identified were based in general dental practice and only one study sought the views of patients.
Conclusions: This systematic review reveals a lack of understanding of PCC within dentistry, and in particular general dental practice. There is currently a poor evidence base to support the use of the current patient reported outcome measures as indicators of patient centredness. Further research is necessary to understand the importance of PCC in dentistry and patients’ views should be central to this research.