J Korean Acad Oral Health.  2015 Jun;39(2):110-118. 10.11149/jkaoh.2015.39.2.110.

Dental hospital selection factors using triangle fuzzy numbers with a focus on supplier factors

• Kim MY
• Shin H

• KMID: 2321516
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11149/jkaoh.2015.39.2.110

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study analyzes supplier factors that affect the selection of dental hospitals.
METHODS
This study performed an analysis by combining outpatient use data, household data, and additional survey data in 2011 from the Korea Health Panel Annual Data from 2008 to 2011. Standardization was conducted on variables of supplier-related factors, and a four-point scale survey questionnaire was converted into a triangle fuzzy number to fuzzify the data. A two-part model was applied to the fuzzified values. In the first part, a study was conducted to determine which supplier factors affected the decision to visit dental outpatient facilities. In the second part, dental outpatient facilities use was analyzed based on the supplier factors.
RESULTS
The study results showed that ages, marital status, education level, position of employment, and income level affected the decision to visit dental outpatient facilities. Furthermore, gender and age affected the usage of dental outpatient facilities. In conclusion, supplier factors affected the decision to visit dental outpatient facilities and usage significantly. Among the supplier factors, dentist recommendation was a significant factor.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the study results, it is necessary for dental care suppliers to provide a measure for appropriate service strategy focused on dental consumers' demand on improvements of dental service value and dental care quality.

Keyword

Dental care quality; Dental hospitals; Supplier factors; Triangle fuzzy number

MeSH Terms

Dental Care
Dentists
Education
Employment
Family Characteristics
Humans
Korea
Marital Status
Outpatients
Surveys and Questionnaires

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Dental service types.

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  Fig. 2. Supplier factors according to type of dental services.

Reference

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