312 - Evaluation of Patient-Centered Care in a Hospital-Based Pediatric Dental Clinic

Purpose: Patient-centered care (PCC) has gained recognition as a fundamental element of quality healthcare. PCC is important in pediatric care, considering the high prevalence of dental fear and anxiety. It is important for clinicians to evaluate their system of care through the eyes of their patients and their parents. Patient experience surveys can help increase provider accountability and efforts to improve PCC in their practice.  

Methods: Our study assessed the experiences of patients at the Pediatric Dental Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado. A 14-question survey was presented to parents of patients at the Pediatric Dental Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado. The survey evaluated several domains of PCC including active listening, after-visit management, clinical skill, ease of access, empathy, office, patient, price, privacy, shared decision making, value, wait time, and willingness to recommend. Willingness to recommend served as an outcome measure to analyze what domains affect the parent's experience.  

Results: Logistic regression models were run using penalized maximum likelihood method to evaluate the relationship between independent factors and the outcome variable (willingness to recommend). The model showed that at  willingness to recommend was associated with clinical skills (OR=18.1, CI=3.9,83.9, p=.000), cultural sensitivity (OR=7.1,CI=1.6, 31.9 p=.009), and price transparency (OR=10.2,CI=1.2, 81.2 p=.030).  

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that practices focused on improving patient-centered care have the potential to maximize efficiency by prioritizing clinical skill, office environment, and cultural sensitivity of staff. 


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