17
Volume1 Issue1
|
CDA
at
W
ork
Canadiansareclearabout importanceoforalhealth;
unclearof roleandcredentialsof theirdentist.
WhatdoCanadians thinkaboutgoing to thedentist and theiroral health ingeneral?
Tobetterunderstandexpectationsaboutdental care fromapatient’sperspective,
CDApartneredwithprovincial dental associations toconductpublicopinion
research in2013, followingupon similar researchconducted in2010.
Given thedecline inpublic trust towardall professionals, the researchevaluated
patient trust in their dentist and their perceptionof thevalueof thecare they
receive. For example,what dopatients expect at adental visit?What do they
understandabout the roleof thedentist in relation to theothermembersof the
dental team? How important is their oral healthcompared to their overall health?
Howdo theydetermine thevalueof thedental care they receive? Thegoal of the
research is toassist dentists indevelopingeffectivecommunication skills for the
benefit of their patients.
A secondarygoal of the researchwas tohelpprovincial dental associations
identifywhere to focus their publiceducationpromotionefforts. Througha
seriesof 12 in-person focusgroups acrossCanadaandaquantitative surveyof
over 3400Canadians, the results reveal:
Morefindings from thepublicopinion researchwill be sharedwithdentists
through their provincial dental association. TheTrust andValueWorkingGroup
will alsobe surveyingdentists anddental specialists in2014 toget their
perspectiveson thedentist–patient relationship. Look for futurearticles in
CDAEssentials
on this research.
a
Public Opinion Survey Reveals
Canadians’ Thoughts
onDentistry
TrustandValue
WorkingGroup
aunique collaboration of
provincial andnational dental
leaders that focuses ondeveloping
communications strategies to
promote the benefits of good oral
health for allCanadians.
95%ofCanadianssaythat
oralhealth is important.
69%ofCanadiansagree
oralhealth isan important
componentofoverallhealth.
60%ofCanadianscontinueto
haveapositiveorverypositive
viewofdentists.
71%ofCanadiansbelieve
dentalcare isaworthwhile
investment.
Evenamongthosewithoutdental
coverage,only15%ofCanadians
wouldeliminateadentalvisitto
savemoney.
69
%
$
15
%
theyaremore
likelytoagreeto
thedentist’sadvice.
46%
saythatthey receive
thisexplanation fromtheir
dentist.
The strongerapatient’s
relationship iswith their
dentist, themore
frequent their
dental visits.
62%
ofCanadianssay
thatwhenthedentist
explainsclearlywhat
theyhave foundduring
theirdentalexam,
