Do people trust dentists? Development of the Dentist Trust Scale

J.M. Armfield; M. Ketting; S. Chrisopoulos; S.R. Baker

doi:10.1111/adj.12514

Do people trust dentists? Development of the Dentist Trust Scale

J.M. Armfield
, M. Ketting
, S. Chrisopoulos
, S.R. Baker

Oral Public Health

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to adapt a measure of trust in physicians to trust in dentists and to assess the reliability and validity of the measure.

Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from a simple random sample of 596 Australian adults. The 11-item General Trust in Physicians Scale was modiﬁed to apply to dentists.

Results: The Dentist Trust Scale (DTS) had good internal consistency ( a = 0.92) and exploratory factor analysis revealed a single-factor solution. Lower DTS scores were associated with less trust in the dentist last visited, having previously
changed dentists due to unhappiness with the care received, currently having dental pain, usual visiting frequency, dental avoidance, and with past experiences of discomfort, gagging, fainting, embarrassment and personal problems with the dentist.

Conclusions: The majority of people appear to exhibit trust in dentists. The DTS shows promising reliability and validity evidence.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	355-362
Journal	Australian Dental Journal
Volume	62
Issue number	3
Early online date	27 Mar 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/adj.12514
Publication status	Published - Sept 2017

Funding

This study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (no. APP1052541).

Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council

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10.1111/adj.12514

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title = "Do people trust dentists? Development of the Dentist Trust Scale",

abstract = "Background: This study aimed to adapt a measure of trust in physicians to trust in dentists and to assess the reliability and validity of the measure. Methods: Questionnaire data were collected from a simple random sample of 596 Australian adults. The 11-item General Trust in Physicians Scale was modiﬁed to apply to dentists. Results: The Dentist Trust Scale (DTS) had good internal consistency ( a = 0.92) and exploratory factor analysis revealed a single-factor solution. Lower DTS scores were associated with less trust in the dentist last visited, having previously changed dentists due to unhappiness with the care received, currently having dental pain, usual visiting frequency, dental avoidance, and with past experiences of discomfort, gagging, fainting, embarrassment and personal problems with the dentist. Conclusions: The majority of people appear to exhibit trust in dentists. The DTS shows promising reliability and validity evidence.",

author = "J.M. Armfield and M. Ketting and S. Chrisopoulos and S.R. Baker",

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AU - Chrisopoulos, S.

AU - Baker, S.R.

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SP - 355

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JO - Australian Dental Journal

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Do people trust dentists? Development of the Dentist Trust Scale

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