AlHakim Rama, AlKhouli Muaaz, Hajeer Mohammad Younis, Al-Saadi Mohannad H
Department of Removable prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syria.
Sci Rep. 2025 Apr 25;15(1):14483. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-99736-9.
Elderly patient satisfaction with removable complete dentures (RCDs) is challenging. One important influencing factor is the interpersonal relationship formed during the treatment. This study investigates student-patient relationship when fabricating RCDs. It assesses the effects of dental students' attitudes towards elderly people on patient satisfaction. This is a prospective longitudinal study of completely edentulous patients, aged 50 years and over, who received at the end of treatment newly RCDs fabricated by undergraduate students. All RCDs were objectively evaluated by expert examiners, and only those given high ratings, scoring above 80%, were included (N = 533). Students' attitudes towards elderly people were assessed using the Kogan's scale (KAOP). Patient satisfaction was assessed by the visual analogue scale (VAS) after one month of using the dentures. A weak-positive but significant correlation was found between students' scores on the KAOP scale and elderly patient satisfaction with the dentures. Patient satisfaction with their RCDs was significantly higher when treated by student groups with positive/slightly positive attitude. Students' attitudes toward elderly people reflected their behavior and communication while treating elderly patients. That, in turn, affected patient satisfaction with the dentures, indicating that the dentist-patient relationship is a significant influencing factor. Differences in elderly patient satisfaction with good quality RCDs fabricated by undergraduate students can be attributed to students' attitudes toward elderly people; the more-positive students attitudes, the higher patient satisfaction.
老年患者对可摘全口义齿（RCD）的满意度颇具挑战性。一个重要的影响因素是治疗过程中形成的人际关系。本研究调查了制作RCD时的医患关系。它评估了牙科学生对老年人的态度对患者满意度的影响。这是一项针对50岁及以上无牙颌患者的前瞻性纵向研究，这些患者在治疗结束时接受了由本科生制作的新RCD。所有RCD均由专家考官进行客观评估，只有那些获得高分（得分高于80%）的才被纳入（N = 533）。使用科根量表（KAOP）评估学生对老年人的态度。在使用义齿一个月后，通过视觉模拟量表（VAS）评估患者满意度。发现学生在KAOP量表上的得分与老年患者对义齿的满意度之间存在弱正相关但显著的相关性。当由态度积极/略积极的学生小组治疗时，患者对其RCD的满意度显著更高。学生对老年人的态度反映了他们在治疗老年患者时的行为和沟通。反过来，这又影响了患者对义齿的满意度，表明医患关系是一个重要的影响因素。老年患者对本科生制作的高质量RCD满意度的差异可归因于学生对老年人的态度；学生态度越积极，患者满意度越高。
