Q factor analysis applied to describe attitudes toward dental care.

This study used a modified form of Q factor analysis to introduce students to methods to identify and describe patient and provider attitudes toward dental care. Factor analysis of questionnaire results and a person by person correlation matrix allowed students to compare their own attitudes with those of their patients, faculty, and significant people in their lives. Results indicate certain issues regarding dental care on which all subjects agree. Subjects grouped themselves along different factors according to the relative importance each issue had for them. By identifying these issues and groupings, students had a systematic description of their specific "dentist-patient relationship." By including clusters of people significant in their own lives, students became personally involved in the purpose, methods, and results of the analysis.