Alice Murariu, Livia Bobu, Norina Forna, Andreea Iordan, Dragos Zelinschi, Raluca Biciuşcă, Cristina Iordache
ABSTRACT:
This paper aims to highlight the prediction factors for the good management of the dental office in the current conditions in Romania after 9 years since the global economic crisis and the chronic underfunding of the oral health system.
Material and method: 150 dentists of Iasi and from Iasi surrounding areas took part in the cross-sectional study by filling in a questionnaire elaborated by us and containing 15 questions. The response rate was 83.3%. The logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the prediction factors for a statistic significance threshold p<0.05, 95% Confidence Interval. Results: 57.4% of dentists said that the income of the dental office has diminished in the last 5 years, while 52.7% said that the number of patients has decreased. Among the measures taken for financial recovery, 68.6% of dentists reduced additional costs, 60.7% gave up specialized trainings, 62% adapted their working hours according to those of patients, and 58.6% purchased less expensive equipment and materials. The logistic regression analysis showed that the best predictor to render the activity in the dental office efficient is the maintaining of prices at a steady value for a long period of time (OR= 4.23), followed by the location of the dental office in the urban environment (OR= 2.34), as well as the reduction of additional expenses (OR= 2.11). Conclusion: The good and efficient management of the dental office largely depends on all the factors described above, but we cannot exclude the macroeconomic and political factors characteristic to the respective country.