In-depth study of the communication needs of empty-nester elderly people attending dental outpatient clinics, to provide scientific reference for further improving the experience of elderly patients attending dental clinics. Methods This study is descriptive in nature, using purposive sampling method, 15 cases of empty-nester elderly people attending the outpatient clinic of Peking University Stomatological Hospital from December 2024 to February 2025 were selected as the study subjects and were interviewed in depth. The content analysis method was applied to analyze the interview data, and the themes were summarized and generalized based on the theory of interactional behavior. Results A total of 2 themes and 7 sub-themes were extracted, which were the subject relationship (the influence of social environment on medical care behavior, the empty-nester’s knowledge of doctor-patient relationship, doctor-patient communication and interaction, and the filling and maintenance of cognitive gap) and the effectiveness of verbal communication (authenticity, correctness, and sincerity). Conclusion Healthcare professionals should pay attention to the patient’s feeling of medical consultation, develop patient-centered communication strategies, and actively develop intelligent communication and educational tools to enhance the effectiveness of doctor-patient communication and improve patient satisfaction.
