PATIENT PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF ENDODONTIC TREATMENT IMPLICATIONS FOR ORAL HEALTH CARE

Adel  Nikšić; Vedran Jakupović

doi:10.5937/sanamed0-65670

Adel Nikšić University of Sarajevo, School of Dental Medicine, Private Dental Practice, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Vedran Jakupović University of Sarajevo , Faculty of Health Studies, Community Healthcare, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/sanamed0-65670

Keywords: endodontic treatment, patient perception, patient satisfaction, oral health

Abstract

Background: Endodontic treatment is an essential procedure for preserving natural teeth and preventing further oral health complications. However, patients’ perceptions, knowledge, and anxiety related to root canal treatment may influence their willingness to undergo the procedure and their overall satisfaction with dental care.

Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the association between demographic characteristics—such as gender, age, and educational level—and patients’ perceptions, attitudes, and expectations regarding endodontic treatment.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an anonymous online questionnaire among patients residing in Sarajevo Canton. A total of 171 participants who had previously undergone endodontic treatment completed the questionnaire. The questionnaire collected demographic data and information about patients’ knowledge of endodontic treatment, previous treatment experience, satisfaction with the information provided by the dentist, perceived pain or discomfort, communication with the dentist, and overall treatment experience. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 22. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, while the independent samples Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were applied to assess differences between groups. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: The majority of participants were female (80.1%), and most had a university degree (60.8%). Male participants reported significantly higher satisfaction with the information provided, the dentist’s professionalism, and comfort during treatment compared to female participants (p < 0.05). Participants aged 41 years and older reported significantly higher satisfaction with communication, information provided, and overall treatment experience than younger age groups. Participants with a lower level of education reported significantly higher levels of pain or discomfort during or after treatment (p < 0.004).

Conclusion: Patients generally showed a positive perception of endodontic treatment. Effective communication, adequate patient education, and the dentist’s professionalism play an important role in reducing anxiety and improving patient satisfaction and treatment experience.

References

Bansal R, Jain A. An insight into patient's perceptions regarding root canal treatment: A questionnaire-based survey. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(2):1020-7. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_880_19.

Al-Nahlawi T, Doumani M, Alalo HA, Habib A. Dentists' knowledge, attitude and practice of root canal treatment procedure: survey-based research. J Contemp Dent Pract. 2019;20(3):347-54.

Janczarek M, Cieszko-Buka M, Bachanek T, Chałas R. Survey-based research on patients’ knowledge about endodontic treatment. Polish Journal of Public Health. 2014;124:134–7. doi: 10.2478/pjph-2014-0030.

Iyer A, Nair R, Gupta P, Tavane PN, Pawar P. Dental patient’s knowledge, awareness and attitude towards root canal treatment: a survey-based research. Int J Recent Sci Res. 2018;9(1):23214-8. doi: 10.24327/ijrsr.2018.0901.1421.

Chugh A, Rastogi R, Choudhary A, Singh S, Chugh VK, Patnana AK. Knowledge, awareness and attitude of oral health and root canal treatment among medical professionals. J Global Oral Health. 2019;2(1):41–7. doi: 10.25259/JGOH_55_2019.

Melgaço-Costa JL, Martins RC, Ferreira EF, Sobrinho AP. Patients' perceptions of endodontic treatment as part of public health services: a qualitative study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2016;13(5):450. doi: 10.3390/ijerph13050450.

Gautam S, Thapa A, Joshi R, Joshi B, Karmacharya A. Knowledge, awareness and expectations of root canal treatment: patients’ perspective. Nepal Medical College Journal. 2022;24(4):363–8. doi: 10.3126/nmcj.v24i4.50595..

Manasa N, Naik KB, Singh M, Moiz AA, Kudala VR, John NK. Patient's knowledge and perception of endodontics treatment: an observational study. J Pharm Bioallied Sci. 2023;15(Suppl 1):S571-4. doi: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_32_23.

Qasim M, Anjum O, Das G, Naz F, Khan SR, Ahmed AR, et al. Root canal treatment from patients' perspective: Knowledge, awareness, and expectations. Vojnosanitetski pregled. 2022;79(4):325-9. doi: 10.2298/VSP200825112Q

Aleid AA. Patients’ perceptions and experiences about the root canal treatment: an exploratory study among Saudi population. Asian Journal of Oral Health and Allied Sciences. 2021;11:5. doi: 10.25259/ajohas_8_2021.

Aghila S. Knowledge and awareness of root canal treatment among patients in Tripoli: a survey-based study. AlQ J Medical App Sci. 2024;7(3):532–9. doi: 10.54361/ajmas.247315.

Purra AR, The Great L, Ahangar FA, Farooq R. Patient’s awareness and knowledge of the root canal treatment in Kashmiri population: a survey-based original research. International Journal of Contemporary Medical Research (IJCMR). 2018;5(7):G12-5. doi: 10.21276/ijcmr.2018.5.7.24.

Okawa K, Ichinohe T, Kaneko Y. Anxiety may enhance pain during dental treatment. Bull Tokyo Dent Coll. 2005;46(3):51-8. doi: 10.2209/tdcpublication.46.51.

Klages U, Bruckner A, Zentner A. Dental aesthetics, self-awareness, and oral health-related quality of life in young adults. Eur J Orthod. 2004;26(5):507-14. doi: 10.1093/ejo/26.5.507.

Perković I, Romić MK, Perić M, Krmek SJ. The level of anxiety and pain perception of endodontic patients. Acta Stomatol Croat. 2014;48(4):258-67. doi: 10.15644/asc47/4/3.

Bitzer EM, Mehrer L, Petrucci M, Hussein R, Micheelis W, Süßlin W et al. Zufriedenheit mit der zahnärztlichen Versorgung aus Perspektive der Patienten - Der Zahn-ZAP-V1 [Satisfaction with dental care from the patient's perspective - the dental-ZAP-V1]. Gesundheitswesen. 2013;75(6):e59-68. [Article in German]. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1321763.

Dugas NN, Lawrence HP, Teplitsky P, Friedman S. Quality of life and satisfaction outcomes of endodontic treatment. J Endod. 2002;28(12):819-27. doi: 10.1097/00004770-200212000-00007.

Gatten DL, Riedy CA, Hong SK, Johnson JD, Cohenca N. Quality of life of endodontically treated versus implant treated patients: a University-based qualitative research study. J Endod. 2011 Jul;37(7):903-9. doi: 10.1016/j.joen.2011.03.026.

Iqbal M, Jameel A, Girach MM, Murtaza. Factors affecting patients' choice of dental services. Pak Oral Dent J. 2014 Dec;34(4):691-5.

Varatharajan PN, Leburu A, Krishnamurthy M, Kumar VN. Patients’ perceptions on root canal treatment and their experiences with it: questionnaire-based survey. J Oper Dent Endod 2021;6(2):78–81.

Lee EYN, Sua ZY, Bhatia S, Kohli S, Rossi-Fedele G, Doğramacı EJ, Nagendrababu V. Oral health-related quality of life and perceptions of patients following primary root canal treatment or non-surgical retreatment. Aust Endod J. 2024;50(3):559-70. doi: 10.1111/aej.12868.