Patient satisfaction with oral health care among secondary school students in Manyoni town, Tanzania

Aim: To determine patient satisfaction with oral care among ordinary-level secondary school students in Manyoni town. Study Design: Cross sectional school-based study. Study participants and methods: 207 students aged 13-21 years old from all 4 ordinary-level secondary schools in Manyoni town who ever received oral care before filled in a self administered 4-point Likert’s scale questionnaire on patient satisfaction. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. Chi-square test was used to determine the differences in the distribution of individuals over satisfaction scale. Significance level was set at p < 0.05.Results:Of 222 questionnaires distributed, 207 were returned (93.2% response rate). Overall 77.8% of the respondents were satisfied with oral care. Explanation of treatment, treatment received and cleanliness of clinic were the most satisfying aspects of oral care, while waiting time was the most dissatisfying aspect. Respondents whose parents were businessmen/women were more dissatisfied with explanation of treatment than respondents whose parents were peasants or employed (p = 0.02). Respondents who had received scaling were more dissatisfied with the cleanliness of the clinic (p < 0.0001); and cost of the treatment (p < 0.0001). Respondents who received tooth extraction were more satisfied with treatment received (p = 0.01) and reception (p < 0.05) than their counterparts who received scaling and or a restoration. Conclusion: Majority of secondary school students were satisfied with oral care. Respondents who had received periodontal treatment were more dissatisfied with oral care than those who had received tooth extraction or restoration. Key words: Patients satisfaction, Secondary school students, Manyoni town, Tanzani