OBJECTIVE:
to evaluate patient satisfaction at the Specialized Dental Centers (SDCs) in the Southeast Macro-region of Minas Gerais, in 2013.
METHODS:
this was a cross-sectional study using the Oral Health Services Quality Assessment Questionnaire, with a probabilistic sample of 256 patients, using multiple linear regression to identify variables associated with their satisfaction.
RESULTS:
most patients stated they were satisfied (86.7%), followed by barely satisfied (10.2%) and very satisfied (3.1%); there were differences in satisfaction among patients attending the different SDCs; independent variables associated with patient satisfaction were 'improved self-perceived oral health' (p=0.001) and less 'waiting time at the clinic' (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION:
he majority of patients were satisfied with the service provided; variables not analyzed in this study, including infrastructure, human resources and management, may have influenced the differences in patient satisfaction found between the different SDCs.
Patient Satisfaction; Oral Health; Secondary Care; Specialties, Dental; Cross-Sectional Studies
