Table 1.

Composite measures from the Patient Experience Measures from the CAHPS Dental Plan Survey.

Dimensions, items		Composite measures
Care from dentists and staff
	Q6	How often did your regular dentist explain things in a way that was easy to understand?
	Q7	How often did your regular dentist listen carefully to you?
	Q8	How often did your regular dentist treat you with courtesy and respect?
	Q9	How often did your regular dentist spend enough time with you?
	Q11	How often did the dentists or dental staff do everything they could to help you feel as comfortable as possible during your dental work?
	Q12	How often did the dentists or dental staff explain what they were doing while treating you?
Access to dental care
	Q13	How often were your dental appointments as soon as you wanted?
	Q15	If you tried to get an appointment for yourself with a dentist who specializes in a particular type of dental care (such as root canals or gum disease) in the last 12 months, how often did you get an appointment as soon as you wanted?
	Q16	How often did you have to spend more than 15 minutes in the waiting room before you saw someone for your appointment?
	Q17	If you had to spend more than 15 minutes in the waiting room before you saw someone for your appointment, how often did someone tell you why there was a delay or how long the delay would be?
	Q14	If you needed to see a dentist right away because of a dental emergency in the last 12 months, did you get to see a dentist as soon as you wanted?
Dental plan costs and services
	Q19	How often did your dental plan cover all of the services you thought were covered?
	Q22	How often did the 800 number, written materials, or website provide the information you wanted?
	Q27	How often did your dental plan’s customer service give you the information or help you needed?
	Q28	How often did your dental plan’s customer service staff treat you with courtesy and respect?
	Q20	Did your dental plan cover what you and your family needed to get done?
	Q24	Did this information (from your dental plan) help you find a dentist you were happy with?