Gender and Age Differences in Patients' Satisfaction with Dental Care in the Slovak Republic: A Cross-sectional Questionnaire Study

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the level of quality of healthcare satisfaction/dissatisfaction according to gender and age in terms of time spent with the doctor, communication, general satisfaction, interpersonal and financial aspects, technical quality and access/availability/convenience. Material and Methods: The standardized "Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire" (n=445) was collected in dental clinics in the Slovak Republic in the period of 2014-2015. The study sample was divided into subgroups according to gender (males: n=236; females: n=209) and age (<35 years: n= 243; ≥36 years: n=202). A scale from 1 (maximum dissatisfaction with quality of healthcare) to 5 (maximum satisfaction with quality of healthcare) was evaluated. Results: The highest significant satisfaction level of quality of healthcare (expressed as a mean score) were found in females in the subscale time spent with doctor (<35 y.) (2.90±0.69; p<0.042); the lowest satisfaction level was found in females (<35 y.) in the subscale general satisfaction (2.53±0.36; p=n.s.). Females (≥36y.) were significantly more satisfied with health care quality in the subscale communication than males (2.72±0.34 and 2.62±0.3, respectively; p=0.046). Males (<35 y.) were significantly less satisfied in the subscale technical quality compared to females (2.54±0.27 and 2.65±0.26, respectively; p=0.002). Conclusion: For the future, it is necessary to specify the next reasons for patients’ satisfaction/dissatisfaction with dental care