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Factors Affecting Patient Selection of an Orthodontic Practice

Elgin, Craig Ross
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330704747

Abstract Details

2012, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Dentistry.
It is valuable for orthodontists to know what factors are important to prospective patients in selecting an office at which to begin treatment. Objective: To determine the relative importance placed upon different factors for selection of an orthodontic practice by prospective patients. Methods: In a previous study5, St. Louis et al. developed a patient questionnaire that was determined to be both valid and reliable (able to accurately measure the intended target repeatedly). Two versions of the questionnaire were developed: one for adult patients and one for parents of adolescent patients. Questionnaires were mailed to participating orthodontics offices where they were made available to prospective adult patients, and the parents of prospective adolescent patients, on their first visit to that office. Subjects returned completed surveys directly to the investigators. Data were analyzed by a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey-Kramer procedure. Results: In total, 210 surveys were analyzed: 66 from adult patients and 143 from parents of adolescent patients. The 10 most important factors for all subjects were predominantly factors such as being made to feel comfortable, a caring attitude of the doctor/staff, clear communications from the doctor/staff, and a clean office. The 10 least important factors were predominantly “office amenities” (refreshments, play area, parties, school pick-up/drop-off, TV, Wi-Fi, video games, etc) and “doctor demographics” (age, gender, religion, and ethnicity of the orthodontist). Conclusion: Certain factors were consistently important, and others unimportant, for patient selection of an orthodontic practice.
Allen Firestone (Committee Chair)
Katherine Vig (Committee Member)
Frank Michael Beck (Committee Member)
85 p.
Dentistry
orthodontics; patient; practice; selection; preference

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Elgin, C. R. (2012). Factors Affecting Patient Selection of an Orthodontic Practice [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330704747

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Elgin, Craig. Factors Affecting Patient Selection of an Orthodontic Practice. 2012. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330704747.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Elgin, Craig. "Factors Affecting Patient Selection of an Orthodontic Practice." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1330704747

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1330704747
3,317
© 2012, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.