A Qualitative Assessment of Factors Influencing Fluoride-Hesitant Parents' Trust of Dentists.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to use fluoride-hesitant parents as a model to identify the factors that erode versus build trust in their child's dentists.

METHODS

A qualitative study was conducted using a semi-structured interview guide with fluoride-hesitant parents recruited from two dental clinics and through snowball sampling. A content analysis was performed to identify factors that erode versus build parents' trust in their child's dentist.

RESULTS

Of the 56 parents interviewed, most were female (91.1 percent) and white (57.1 percent) and had a mean age of 41±9.7 (standard deviation) years. Factors identified included five that erode trust (having trust violated previously, sensing discrepancies, getting pushed to accept fluoride, feeling dismissed, and sensing bias) and four that build trust (being treated as an individual, having a dentist who communicates, feeling supported and respected, and having a choice).

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists' understanding of the factors that erode and build trust with parents could help providers develop patient-centered communication strategies.