Construction and clinical application of a quality evaluation index system for digital intraoral impression scanning

Background With the popularization of digital intraoral impression scanning technology, the lack of standardized quality evaluation criteria has increasingly affected the development of the industry, especially in nursing-led scanning procedures. Therefore, exploring the construction of a scientific quality evaluation index system for digital intraoral impression scanning is a matter of great significance. Methods Based on Donabedian's “Structure-Process-Outcome” model, this study constructed an index system through literature review, semi-structured interviews (n = 19), and two rounds of Delphi expert consultations (n = 22), and conducts clinical verification via RCT from May to June 2025. from January to March 2025. A total of 200 patients requiring posterior single crown restoration-impression scanning were randomly divided into a control group and an experimental group. The control group received routine impression scanning and nursing, while The experimental group performed scanning and nursing according to the standardized impression scanning nursing intervention program formulated based on the evaluation index system of Donabedian's three-dimensional quality model. The primary outcomes included scanning time, data qualification rate (assessed by 5 dimensions), and patient satisfaction (measured by a 5-item Likert scale). Results The constructed index system comprised 3 first-level indicators, 12 second-level indicators, and 35 third-level indicators, with an expert authority coefficient (Cr = 0.982) and Kendall's W coefficient (W = 0.687, P < 0.001), that All met the screening criteria of the Delphi method. Clinical application showed that the experimental group had significantly shorter scanning time (9.05 ± 2.79 min vs. 14.86 ± 2.56 min), higher patient satisfaction (98.24% vs. 94.35%) with statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in t-tests for time and satisfaction, and improved data qualification rate (91% vs. 84%) although non-statistically significant differences but positive trend in qualification rate. Conclusion The evaluation index system significantly enhances scanning efficiency, scanning quality and patient satisfaction, providing an effective and standardized practical model for clinical standardization of digital intraoral impression scanning, with high clinical application value.Clinical trial numberThis trial has been registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.12/05/2025 with identifier: ChiCTR2500102285.