Evaluation of Patient Satisfaction with Orthodontic Care Provision (A Prospective Clinical Study)

Objective: Patient satisfaction is critical to ensure patient adherence during orthodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate patient satisfaction with orthodontic care and related services provided for Iraqi sample at the College of Dentistry, University of Baghdad. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire-based prospective study was conducted to assess patient satisfaction by using a three-point response rating. The questionnaire contained seven sections divided into 21 questions that covered overall patient relationship with the orthodontic staff, proposed treatment explanation, and orthodontic treatment quality. The questionnaire standard was set so that at least 90% “always” response should be shown by all the patients within the same item. The participants were recruited at different time points of the orthodontic treatment course. The data were allocated into two main groups according to patients’ age as adolescents (under 18 years old) and adults (18 years or older). Results: The validated questionnaire successfully assessed patient satisfaction, showing different percentages of responses addressing various questions. The highest satisfaction “always” response percentages (up to 98.8%) were found in the orthodontist–patient relation section, whereas the highest dissatisfaction “never” responses (up to 16%) and “sometimes” answers (up to 59.3%) were observed in the patient waiting time section. Chi-square analysis showed non-significant differences (p>0.05) between age groups. Conclusions: The first Arabic version of patient satisfaction questionnaire was successfully developed and validated. Overall satisfaction with the treatment process appeared to be significantly affected by orthodontist–patient relations, especially verbal communication. Waiting time and waiting room environment may adversely affect the satisfaction level.