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VOLUME 16 , ISSUE 3 ( March, 2015 ) > List of Articles

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Patient Preferences in Selecting a Dentist: Survey Results from the Urban Population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Anil Sukumaran, Sajith Vellappally, Sahar Bin Huraib, Nadia Al Nahas, Hana O Al-Balbeesi, Faida Moawia Abu-Aljadayl

Citation Information : Sukumaran A, Vellappally S, Huraib SB, Nahas NA, Al-Balbeesi HO, Abu-Aljadayl FM. Patient Preferences in Selecting a Dentist: Survey Results from the Urban Population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015; 16 (3):201-204.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10024-1661

Published Online: 01-08-2015

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2015; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction

Awareness of gender- or nationality-driven preconceptions can help dentists to have a better interpretation of the dentist-patient relationship. It is even more noteworthy to understand these predilections in Saudi society, where women and men are usually segregated due to religion- and culturebased considerations. This study is one of the first to explore the preferences of patients when selecting a dentist with respect to gender and nationality in the city of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Materials and methods

A total of 445 community residents residing in Riyadh were randomly selected for a cross-sectional study. The participants completed a survey designed to assess which of two factors (gender and/or nationality) were perceived as most relevant in choosing a dentist. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 11.5 software.

Results

Female participants did not show any preference for the gender of the dentist, whereas 40% of the male participants preferred a male dentist. Participants also favored male dentists in the fields of oral surgery (78.9%), implants (74.1%), endodontics (67.5%), orthodontics (65.8%) and prosthodontics (64.2%). An exception was noted in pediatric dentistry, for which female dentists were favored by 52.8% of the participants. Additionally, most (66.1%) participants did not have any preference for the nationality of the dentist.

Conclusion

Riyadh residents showed a general preference for a male dentist but demonstrated no preference for nationality when selecting a dentist.

How to cite this article

Huraib SB, Al Nahas N, Al-Balbeesi HO, Abu-Aljadayl FM, Vellappally S, Sukumaran A. Patient Preferences in Selecting a Dentist: Survey Results from the Urban Population of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015;16(3): 201-204.


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