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Patient orientation and professional orientation of Dutch dentists
Author(s) -
Bruers J. Josef M.,
Felling Albert J. A.,
Truin Gert Jan,
Van't Hof Martin A.,
Van Rossum Ger M. J. M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
community dentistry and oral epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.061
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1600-0528
pISSN - 0301-5661
DOI - 10.1111/j.0301-5661.2004.00132.x
Subject(s) - medicine , orientation (vector space) , oral health care , health care , family medicine , stratified sampling , nursing , oral health , geometry , mathematics , pathology , economics , economic growth
– By providing dental health care, dentists dedicate themselves to the preservation and/or improvement of oral health in their patients. By adequately carrying out this care providers' role, dentists will gain recognition, esteem and respect from both patients and colleagues. This analysis aims to assess the patient and professional orientation of dentists and investigate which of their personal and practice characteristics can be regarded determining for these two aspects of their role as care providers. In the year 2000, data was collected via a written questionnaire sent to a random, stratified sample of 790 dentists, of whom 607 (77%) responded. Multivariate regression analysis shows that the preventive treatment concept, professional satisfaction and the number of hours per week that household tasks are performed are positive determinants for dentists' patient orientation. Also, the longer dentists are active in their profession, the more patient oriented they will be, and with more hours per week support from oral hygienists they are less patient oriented. As for professional orientation, dentists' preventive treatment concept and their professional satisfaction can also be considered positive determinants. Furthermore, dentists are more profession oriented when their partner works in the practice, with more hours per week support from oral hygienist(s) and with more collaboration contacts with other care providers. Compared to men, women are on average less profession oriented. Among Dutch dentists, there exist clear differences in the way they take on their role as care providers with regard to patient orientation and professional orientation.