Relationship variables, with the satisfaction of patients of dental services

“Objective:” To relate sociodemographic variables, anxiety levels and oral health beliefs with the satisfaction of patients between 15 and 44 years, who visited the dentist in a health promotion center of Manizales, during the first semester of 2007.

“Materials:” This descriptive project carried out a systematic sampling with a factor K = 4, a reliability level of 95% and a sampling error of 5 %, taking into consideration an adjust factor of 10%. The final sample was of 342 patients. Internationally validated instruments were administered. A descriptive analysis of frequencies was carried out through the statistical package SPSS and a multivariate analysis was performed using the SPAD.N package.

“Results:” Patients who expressed dissatisfaction toward any component of the service were characterized because they used a total prosthesis in a 82,2 %, they considered that oral diseases can be serious in an 85% and considered that treatments are costly in a 82 %. 92% considered that diseases in teeth affect self-esteem, 46,6 % is afraid of visiting the dentist, and 61,5 % has not regularly visited the dentist because they have been busy.

“Conclusions:” Dissatisfaction was related to sociodemographic characteristics, general and dental health condition, and oral health beliefs; perceived susceptibility and benefits, and self-efficacy. Among the signs to take action were related to fear to visit the dentist, easy access to a dentist and the need to visit the dentist for a check up. The anxiety level related with dissatisfaction was severe.