Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the sample study

 

DFP

4th

3rd

 

 

N (col. %)

N (col. %)

N (col. %)

P-value

Gender/Age

 

 

 

0.01

Male

31 (32)

28 (43)

65 (52)

 

Female

66 (68)

37 (57)

60 (48)

 

Race/ethnicity

 

 

 

.17

African American

8 (9)

5 (8)

17 (14)

 

Caucasian

74 (80)

53 (84)

87 (71)

 

Asian

5 (5)

1 (2)

3 (2)

 

Hispanic

1 (1)

1 (2)

9 (7)

 

Other

4 (4)

3 (5)

6 (5)

 

 

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

Mean (SD)

 

Age

56.1 (16.3)

61.4 (12.3)

55.3 (17.2)

.04

Table 2. Interactions with dental provider and staff

 

Agree/ Strongly agree

Neutral

Disagree/ Strongly Disagree

 

 

N (%)

N (%)

 

P-value

Comfortable while receiving treatment

 

 

 

.09

DFP

96(100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 

4th

61 (95)

3 (5)

0 (0)

 

3rd

120 (94)

5 (4)

2 (2)

 

Pleased with the way treatment looks

 

 

 

.006

DFP

97 (100)

0 (0)

0 (0)

 

4th

59 (91)

4 (6)

2 (3)

 

3rd

108 (95)

6 (5)

0 (0)

 

Confidence in the dentist to provide quality care

 

 

 

.37

DFP

94 (98)

2 (2)

0 (0)

 

4th

60 (92)

3 (5)

2 (3)

 

3rd

119 (96)

4 (3)

1 (1)

 

Dental providers and staff members seem genuinely interested in my well being

 

 

 

.08

DFP

95 (99)

1 (1)

0 (0)

 

4th

59 (92)

3 (5)

2 (3)

 

3rd

121 (97)

4 (3)

0 (0)

 

Front desk staff treat me with courtesy and respect

 

 

 

.003

DFP

91 (96)

3 (3)

1 (1)

 

4th

58 (88)

8 (12)

0 (0)

 

3rd

123 (98)

1 (1)

2 (2)

 

Interactions with dental provider and
staff member met my expectations

 

 

 

.004

DFP

96 (99)

0 (0)

1 (1)

 

4th

57 (88)

5 (8)

3 (5)

 

3rd

123 (98)

2 (2)

1 (1)

 

In an emergency, my concern is addressed and relieved by the dentist or another staff member

 

 

 

.053

DFP

76 (96)

3 (4)

0 (0)

 

4th

42 (84)

6 (12)

2 (4)

 

3rd

87 (94)

6 (7)

0 (0)

 

I would recommend the (student/DFP) clinic

 

 

 

.07

DFP

94 (99)

0 (0)

1 (1)

 

4th

57 (93)

2 (3)

2 (3)

 

3rd

122 (98)

2 (2)

0 (0)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table 3. Communication with dental provider and staff

 

Agree/ Strongly agree

Neutral

Disagree/ Strongly Disagree

 

 

N (%)

N (%)

 

P-value

Questions have been answered to my satisfaction

 

 

 

.28

DFP

93 (97)

2 (2)

1 (1)

 

4th

58 (92)

3 (5)

2 (3)

 

3rd

118 (97)

4 (3)

0 (0)

 

Cost of care was clearly communicated
prior to treatment

 

 

 

.18

DFP

79 (85)

8 (9)

6 (6)

 

4th

61 (94)

4 (6)

0 (0)

 

3rd

110 (90)

6 (5)

7 (6)

 

Types of treatment options were fully explained

 

 

 

.36

DFP

92 (98)

1 (1)

1 (1)

 

4th

60 (94)

4 (6)

0 (0)

 

3rd

117 (94)

5 (4)

2 (2)

 

I understood the treatment provided
and the reasons for that treatment

 

 

 

.48

DFP

91 (99)

1 (1)

0 (0)

 

4th

60 (95)

3 (5)

0 (0)

 

3rd

120 (97)

3 (2)

1 (1)

 

I am able to reach my dentist by telephone

 

 

 

.07

DFP

83 (91)

7 (8)

1 (1)

 

4th

56 (95)

2 (3)

1 (2)

 

3rd

120 (98)

2 (2)

0 (0)

 

Phone messages to my dentist
are promptly returned

 

 

 

.20

DFP

68 (91)

6 (8)

1 (1)

 

4th

52 (93)

3 (5)

1 (2)

 

3rd

110 (97)

3 (3)

0 (0)

 

I can discuss any concerns I have with my dentist

 

 

 

.15

DFP

90 (98)

1 (1)

1 (1)

 

4th

58 (94)

4 (6)

0 (0)

 

3rd

120 (98)

3 (2)

0 (0)

 

Automated telephone appointment reminder system is effective in reminding me of my appointment

 

 

 

.46

DFP

84 (93)

5 (6)

1 (1)

 

4th

52 (88)

3 (5)

4 (7)

 

3rd

104 (91)

7 (6)

3 (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Table 4. Timeliness of treatment

 

Agree/ Strongly agree

Neutral

Disagree/ Strongly Disagree

 

 

N (%)

N (%)

 

P-value

I am seen on time when I have appointments

 

 

 

.004

DFP

87 (89)

11 (11)

0 (0)

 

4th

50 (91)

3 (5)

3 (5)

 

3rd

123 (97)

4 (3)

0 (0)

 

I can be seen for recall appointments
at the recommended intervals

 

 

 

.02

DFP

90 (96)

4 (4)

0 (0)

 

4th

50 (88)

3 (5)

4 (7)

 

3rd

102 (89)

11 (10)

1 (1)

 

I am contacted routinely when it is
time for a cleaning or recall checkup

 

 

 

.002

DFP

87 (95)

3 (3)

2 (2)

 

4th

40 (71)

9 (16)

7 (13)

 

3rd

97 (84)

7 (6)

12 (10)

 

Treatment is completed as rapidly
as I believe it should be

 

 

 

.003

DFP

90 (97)

3 (3)

0 (0)

 

4th

52 (80)

6 (9)

7 (11)

 

3rd

105 (85)

11 (9)

7 (6)

 

Treatment involving more than one
department was smoothly coordinated

 

 

 

.03

DFP

75 (97)

2 (3)

0 (0)

 

4th

49 (84)

8 (14)

1 (2)

 

3rd

94 (87)

13 (12)

1 (1)

 

I would recommend to others

 

 

 

.07

DFP

94 (99)

0 (0)

1 (1)

 

4th

57 (93)

2 (3)

2 (3)

 

3rd

122(98)

2 (2)

0 (0)

 

Table 5 . Administrative and  Transportation

 

Agree/ Strongly agree

Neutral

Disagree/ Strongly Disagree

 

 

N (%)

N (%)

 

P-value

Infection control procedures are followed
and adequate to protect me

 

 

 

.17

DFP

87 (94)

6 (6)

0 (0)

 

4th

51 (86)

7 (12)

1 (2)

 

3rd

110 (95)

6 (5)

0 (0)

 

My medical/dental information
remains private and confidential

 

 

 

.07

DFP

90 (96)

4 (4)

0 (0)

 

4th

57 (90)

6 (10)

0 (0)

 

3rd

117 (98)

2 (2)

1 (1)

 

Signs directing me to the Dental School
from the parking deck are adequate

 

 

 

.42

DFP

64 (82)

10 (13)

4 (5)

 

4th

53 (87)

5 (8)

3 (5)

 

3rd

107 (90)

10 (8)

2 (2)

 

Shuttle buses are prompt and reliable

 

 

 

.21

DFP

29 (73)

9 (23)

2 (5)

 

4th

20 (56)

9 (25)

7 (19)

 

3rd

27 (57)

16 (34)

4 (9)

 

Table 6. Fees & Billing

 

 

 

 

 

Agree/ Strongly agree

Neutral

Disagree/ Strongly Disagree

 

 

N (%)

N (%)

 

P-value

Monthly billing statements are easy to read

 

 

 

.41

DFP

63 (85)

8 (11)

3 (4)

 

4th

33 (92)

3 (8)

0 (0)

 

3rd

58 (85)

10 (15)

0 (0)

 

Monthly billing statements are accurate

 

 

 

.40

DFP

62 (87)

6 (8)

3 (4)

 

4th

28 (85)

5 (15)

0 (0)

 

3rd

54 (87)

8 (13)

0 (0)

 

Fees at the (student/DFP) clinic are reasonable

 

 

 

.003

DFP

71 (76)

16 (17)

6 (6)

 

4th

54 (87)

6 (10)

2 (3)

 

3rd

115 (94)

6 (5)

1 (1)