The effect of socio-demographic variables on the endodontic patients’ satisfaction at the Faculty of Dentistry at Gazi University: questionnaire analysis

Objective: To evaluate the effect of socio-demographic factors on the endodontic patients’ satisfaction at the Faculty of Dentistry at Gazi University. Materials and Method: Patient satisfaction questionnaires were applied between 24.04.2018 – 04.07.2018 at three endodontic clinics where undergraduate (one clinic) and graduate students (two clinics) practiced. The socio-demographic information of the patients was recorded (gender, age, marital status, education level, household income). The emphasis and satisfaction responses given by the patients to 8 questionnaire items were measured using a 5-point Likert scale. The number of valid questionnaires was 259 (114 men, 145 women; average age ± standard deviation: 39.20 ± 11.45 years; statistical power ≥95%). Chi-square test (for categorical variables), Wilcoxon test (for intra-group comparisons between the emphasis and satisfaction scores), and Wilcoxon or Kruskal-Wallis H test and Dunn post hoc test (for inter-group comparison of the score differences) were used in the statistical analysis (α=0.05). Results: The distribution of the socio-demographic variables were similar among the three clinics (p>0.05). When the data of these clinics were combined, a statistical significance was found only for the ‘education level’; patients with an education level equal to or less than secondary school were more satisfied than those with a higher education level (p<0.05). On the other hand, without any inter-group statistical significance and according to the intra-group analyses, the following groups tended to have greater satisfaction: men, 18-27 age range (the youngest age group), unmarried, and those with higher household income. Conclusion: Among the socio-demographic variables of the endodontic patients of the Faculty of Dentistry of Gazi University, only the ‘education level’ had a remarkable effect on the patients’ satisfaction; those with relatively lower education had greater satisfaction