Abstract
Introduction and aims
Patient feedback has potential to drive quality improvement in dental care. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding which elements of patient feedback should be used. This study aimed to select appropriate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) for use in audit and feedback-based quality improvement in dental practices in the UK.
Methods
A two-phase, evidence-informed deliberative process—comprising evidence synthesis and Deliberative Stakeholder Consultations (DSCs)—was conducted. Phase one: PROMs and PREMs candidate items were identified through systematic literature search and thematically analysed. Phase two: Dental patients and professionals were recruited for DSCs through purposive and snowball sampling. Inductive thematic analysis of DSC transcripts was conducted, and the final measures were agreed (five for each dental encounter: check-up, planned treatment, and urgent care).
Results
In phase one, 672 measures (across eight themes such as psychological/social impacts) were identified. In phase two, eight dentists and five patients participated (March-May 2024). Stakeholder priorities were as follows. Check-up appointments: dentist’s communication skills regarding treatment options and cost, and the cleanliness of facilities. Planned treatment: effective pain management during procedures and overall satisfaction with treatment. Urgent care: management of patient fear/anxiety and pain relief following a procedure. Communication of treatment progress and provision of post-operative advice were considered important in both planned and routine treatment. Waiting times for appointments were a priority across all encounters.
Conclusion
Eleven measures (after removing duplicates) were selected for the encounters to offer meaningful potential for operationalizing quality improvement in dental practices. DSCs were also perceived as a useful method for prioritizing measures for quality improvement.
Clinical Relevance
This study is the first to identify actionable PROMs and PREMs which can be used for audit and feedback loops in dental practices. These measures will be tested in DELIVER case studies.
Patient feedback has potential to drive quality improvement in dental care. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding which elements of patient feedback should be used. This study aimed to select appropriate patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and patient-reported experience measures (PREMs) for use in audit and feedback-based quality improvement in dental practices in the UK.
Methods
A two-phase, evidence-informed deliberative process—comprising evidence synthesis and Deliberative Stakeholder Consultations (DSCs)—was conducted. Phase one: PROMs and PREMs candidate items were identified through systematic literature search and thematically analysed. Phase two: Dental patients and professionals were recruited for DSCs through purposive and snowball sampling. Inductive thematic analysis of DSC transcripts was conducted, and the final measures were agreed (five for each dental encounter: check-up, planned treatment, and urgent care).
Results
In phase one, 672 measures (across eight themes such as psychological/social impacts) were identified. In phase two, eight dentists and five patients participated (March-May 2024). Stakeholder priorities were as follows. Check-up appointments: dentist’s communication skills regarding treatment options and cost, and the cleanliness of facilities. Planned treatment: effective pain management during procedures and overall satisfaction with treatment. Urgent care: management of patient fear/anxiety and pain relief following a procedure. Communication of treatment progress and provision of post-operative advice were considered important in both planned and routine treatment. Waiting times for appointments were a priority across all encounters.
Conclusion
Eleven measures (after removing duplicates) were selected for the encounters to offer meaningful potential for operationalizing quality improvement in dental practices. DSCs were also perceived as a useful method for prioritizing measures for quality improvement.
Clinical Relevance
This study is the first to identify actionable PROMs and PREMs which can be used for audit and feedback loops in dental practices. These measures will be tested in DELIVER case studies.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | International Dental Journal |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 23 Oct 2025 |
Keywords
- Dental care
- oral health
- oral care team
- quality of health care
- quality indicators
- qualitative research