The Consumer Council of Norway is planning to launch a web-based dental health information portal. This task is assigned by the Norwegian Ministry of Health and Care Services, with an overall aim to make it easier for patients to choose among different dental services based on price and quality. In addition to listing the fees of dental procedures, the ambition of the internet site is to also include useful information on oral health and dental treatment options. The purpose of this assignment is to disclose patients’ wishes and needs for dental information, and also how patients rate the commodity of a web-based information portal.
Method: We collected information via a questionnaire given to a selection of patients attending the University Dental Clinic, University of Bergen. The patients were informed, orally and in writing that participation was voluntarily. The questionnaires were given to patients being treated by dental students. All questionnaires were completed during the visit and returned immediately. A total of 172 questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 72.9 %.
Result: The results show that as many as 94 % of the respondents were either very satisfied or satisfied with the information given to them at the University Dental Clinic and that 92.5 % was very satisfied or satisfied with the information regarding their need of treatment. More than 70 % of the respondents replied that they thought a web-based information portal on dental health would be useful and that they intended to use it.
Conclusion:
The respondents being treated at the University Dental Clinic are currently satisfied with the information they receive, but are also positive to the idea of a web-based information portal on dental health.