Evaluation of Patients' Trust in Dentists According to Generations

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the

trust in the dentist of patients who applied to prosthodontics department with

dental trust scale questionnaire questions according to different generations.<o:p></o:p>

METHODS: Questionnaire methodology was used to measure

patients' trust in dentists. Ethics committee approval was obtained from

Atatürk University Faculty of Dentistry. An 11-item Dental Trust Scale questionnaire

was used to measure the level of trust in dentists. 206 patients were surveyed.

Analyses were performed in IBM SPSS 25 program. Pearson Chi-Square and Fisher's

Exact tests were applied to compare the answers given to the relevant questions

according to age groups They were categorized according to generations using

birth dates. In testing the relationship between categorical variables, Pearson

Chi-Square test was performed when the sample size assumption (expected

value>5) was met and Fisher's Exact test was performed when it was not met. <o:p></o:p>

RESULT: As a result of the analyses, statistically

significant differences were determined between the ages and the answers given

to the question " I have no

worries about putting your oral health in the hands of the dentist. "

(p<0.05). Baby Boomer and Generation X participants had a higher level of

trust in dentists than Generation Y participants.<o:p></o:p>

CONCLUSIONS: Each generation of patients has different

expectations and needs from dentists. Due to this intergenerational gap, ways

to effectively build trust with their dentists and to treat all types of

patients in the best way should be explored.<o:p></o:p>

KEYWORD: generations, trust, dentist, patient,

generation gap, scale<o:p></o:p>

<!--[if supportFields]> ADDIN EN.REFLIST <![endif]--><!--[if supportFields]><![endif]--><o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>