Affect and Cognition As Antecedents of Patients’ Trust in the Dentist

Aim: to evaluate the association of the patients’ perception about dentist’s affect and cognition on trust and, consequently, on intention to return and patient satisfaction with life. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study conducted in patients’ adults and elderly at of two dentistry clinics in the south of Brazil. Patients had to have a previous relationship with the dentist (at least one previous consult) and 18 years of age or older. The data were collected through self-administrated questionnaire using measures adapted from other research, using structural equation modeling. We test using a chi-square difference test (p-value<0,05). Results: The mean age of the 197 patients was 37.0 years (σ = 15.5). The affect perceived by the patient at the dentist had a positive effect (β = .53) on the trust that the patient develops in relation to the dentist. The same is true for the effect of the rational or cognitive aspects perceived by the patient at the dentist (β = .41). The trust positively influences the patient’s intention to return to that dentist (β = .82). In addition, the intention to return to the dentist positively influences the patient’s satisfaction with life (β = .49). Conclusions: Affective and cognitive aspects positively influenced the patient’s trust in the dentist. The greater the patient’s trust in the dentist, the greater the intention to return to that dentist. Furthermore, a good relationship with the dentist improve the patient’s satisfaction with life.