Clinical dental care in hospital dental departments in Taiwan: Results from the 2008 national survey

Background/purposeHospital accreditation in Taiwan was begun in 1978, but dental departments were not included until much later. In 2007–2008, a field survey of dental departments of hospitals was carried out. The purposes of the study were to understand the overall conditions of clinical dental care of hospital dental departments in hospitals in Taiwan, and produce criteria for clinical dental care.Materials and methodsIn 2007–2008, a questionnaire survey (evaluation form) about clinical dental care criteria was mailed to 165 dental departments in Taiwan. After the questionnaires were mailed back, a field survey of dental departments of these hospitals was carried out. A field visit was made to each hospital to check the answers on the questionnaire. The survey return rate was 62%. This research examined 36 of 93 criteria concerned with clinical dental care, and the results were analyzed. Scores of the criteria in the questionnaire (evaluation form) were on a five-point scale, from high to low: A = totally achieved, B = above the average standard, C = the average standard, D = below the average standard, and E = not suitable. The percentages of A–E were analyzed according to the location of the dental department (i.e., in a medical center, regional hospital, or district hospital), then for every respective criterion, and finally for the entire dataset.ResultsFor total clinical dental care, 53% medical centers received an A, 42% of regional hospitals received a B, and 48% of district hospitals received a C. The overall average was B (35%). Percentages above C were 99% of medical centers, 88% of regional hospitals, and 76% of district hospitals.ConclusionFor overall clinical dental care in hospital dental departments in Taiwan, the results of this research show that medical centers are superior to regional hospitals, which are better than district hospitals. The criteria used in the study can be taken as references for dental department accreditation in hospitals in the future.