The effect of students’ attitudes towards elderly patients on satisfaction with removable complete dentures

Elderly patient satisfaction with removable complete dentures (RCDs) is challenging. One important influencing factor is the interpersonal relationship formed during the treatment. This study investigates student-patient relationship when fabricating RCDs. It assesses the effects of dental students' attitudes towards elderly people on patient satisfaction. This is a prospective longitudinal study of completely edentulous patients, aged 50 years and over, who received at the end of treatment newly RCDs fabricated by undergraduate students. All RCDs were objectively evaluated by expert examiners, and only those given high ratings, scoring above 80%, were included (N = 533). Students' attitudes towards elderly people were assessed using the Kogan's scale (KAOP). Patient satisfaction was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) after one month of using the dentures. A weak-positive but significant correlation was found between students' scores on the KAOP scale and elderly patient satisfaction with the dentures. Patient satisfaction with their RCDs was significantly higher when treated by student groups with positive/slightly positive attitude. Students' attitudes toward elderly people reflected their behavior and communication while treating elderly patients. That, in turn, affected patient satisfaction with the dentures, indicating that the dentist-patient relationship is a significant influencing factor. Differences in elderly patient satisfaction with good quality RCDs fabricated by undergraduate students can be attributed to students' attitudes toward elderly people; the more-positive students attitudes, the higher patient satisfaction.