Dental hospital selection factors using triangle fuzzy numbers with a focus on supplier factors.
10.11149/jkaoh.2015.39.2.110
- Author:
Min Young KIM
1
;
Hosung SHIN
Author Information
1. Department of Social and Humanity in Dentistry, Dental College, Wonkwang University School of Dentistry, Iksan, Korea. shinhosung@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Dental care quality;
Dental hospitals;
Supplier factors;
Triangle fuzzy number
- MeSH:
Dental Care;
Dentists;
Education;
Employment;
Family Characteristics;
Humans;
Korea;
Marital Status;
Outpatients;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
2015;39(2):110-118
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
