QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE DENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED AT A DENTAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN BANGALORE, KARNATAKA- A FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

Gayathri Sreedhar; Nagesh L; Smitha B Kulkarni; Nithin N Bhaskar; Sourabha K G

Volume : VIII, Issue : IX, September - 2019

QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE DENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDED AT A DENTAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN BANGALORE, KARNATAKA- A FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSION

Gayathri Sreedhar, Nagesh L, Smitha B Kulkarni, Nithin N Bhaskar, Sourabha K G

Abstract :

Aim: To explore and understand the quality of dental care and services provided to the patients visiting a dental educational institution through focus group discussion. Methods: Focus group discussion was conducted with 19 participants [4 patients, 7 teaching faculty of dental institution, 5 dental students (PG�s/ Interns), 2 dental auxiliaries and a representative from NGO]. Thematic content analysis was performed and main themes and sub–themes were extracted from the recordings. Results: Seven themes were extracted from the contents of focus group discussion:(i) Attitude of patients towards dental treatment and the attitude of dentist towards patients (ii) Cost of dental treatment in the dental institution (iii) Convenience to the patients which included working hours of the institution, treatment duration, location and visibility of the dental institution (iv) Barriers in providing treatment which included inter departmental differences in diagnosis, problems with power outages, generator and compressor problems (vi) Shortage of auxillary staff (vii) Non availability of specific department related feedback forms and feedback from the patients was not mandatory. Conclusion: This focus group discussion provided a means of assessing satisfaction of the patients of the dental institution towards the treatment and barriers for providing the treatment by the students.