| Abstract [eng] |
The aim of this paper is to examine the market of odontology business and to point out the trends of its development. Objectives: to give the concept of odontology services market and its main characteristics; to make a research of odontology services market in Kaunas; to question the service users abroad; to make a comparison of odontology services market of the chosen foreign countries and Lithuania; to make an assessment of development trends of odontology services market on the basis of the results of empirical research; to describe the methodology of research; to make conclusions. The objects of research are private providers and users of odontology services in Kaunas and abroad, the service market. The structure of the paper consists of theoretical and practical parts. The first part deals with the theoretical aspects of the health care services, the second part provides the methodology of empirical research of odontology services market, and on this basis the research of Kaunas and foreign countries odontology market is made. The third part provides the results of the research. The research of odontology market is made using the method of random selection. The research was made between the end of 2005 and the end of 2006. Hypothesis: people will choose a private odontology services provider, because: they want better quality service. The hypothesis was confirmed. For the research of service provider, a questionnaire was prepared and sent by e-mail to 50 clinics and 10 clinics were questioned by phone. The questionnaire was filled in by 20 clinics, 10 odontology offices were questioned by phone, and 30 refused to answer. The questions of the questionnaire of odontology service users were answered by 100 respondents living in Kaunas. Electronic questionnaires for users of odontology service were sent to Ireland, Great Britain, Germany and Italy. 100 of questionnaires for odontology service users were received. To study the service providers abroad secondary data analysis was used. The results of the research. In the present day economy system dental care is a business subject and the provider of health care services for the public. Odontology clinics in Kaunas have enough patients, the demand will remain, and the income of the population will increase, as well as the concern with the health of their teeth. The supply of odontology services is diverse and big, but the knowledge about the mouth hygiene is insufficient. Institutions providing dental care services do not pay much attention to advertise their business or to attract clients; the competition is passive and not felt. An increasing number of dental care patients are foreigners. Medical tourism in Lithuania is becoming more and more popular. Suggestions. The niche of dental care tourism is free; one can set up an agency of dental care tourism and offer a several times cheaper dental care service for foreigners, coordinating the visits with the doctor with cultural programmes in Lithuania. |
