PURPOSE: This study's purposes were to: (1) develop a practice profile of board certified pediatric dentists based upon the characteristics of the dental home; and (2) suggest a construct for an index that could assist in the determination of the existence of a dental home. METHODS: A survey was conducted of American Board of Pediatric Dentistry diplomates. Questions were asked that profiled practices based on the 7 characteristics of a dental home: (1) accessibility; (2) family centered; (3) continuous; (4) comprehensive; (5) coordinated; (6) compassionate; (7) culturally competent. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of respondents were knowledgeable about the dental home and reported that they regularly apply the concept in practice; 95 percent believed that it is important for a practice to function as a dental home. A dental home assessment tool was thought to be potentially useful by 72 percent of respondents. While 73 percent said a dental home cannot exist independently of a specific dental office, academic/public health respondents were more likely to respond that it could. CONCLUSIONS: Participants' variability in responses suggests that functional criteria associated with the 7 characteristics of a dental home would be helpful in determining the success of providing a dental home. A potential construct for a dental home index was suggested.
PURPOSE: This study's purposes were to: (1) develop a practice profile of board certified pediatric dentists based upon the characteristics of the dental home; and (2) suggest a construct for an index that could assist in the determination of the existence of a dental home. METHODS: A survey was conducted of American Board of Pediatric Dentistry diplomates. Questions were asked that profiled practices based on the 7 characteristics of a dental home: (1) accessibility; (2) family centered; (3) continuous; (4) comprehensive; (5) coordinated; (6) compassionate; (7) culturally competent. RESULTS: Seventy-five percent of respondents were knowledgeable about the dental home and reported that they regularly apply the concept in practice; 95 percent believed that it is important for a practice to function as a dental home. A dental home assessment tool was thought to be potentially useful by 72 percent of respondents. While 73 percent said a dental home cannot exist independently of a specific dental office, academic/public health respondents were more likely to respond that it could. CONCLUSIONS:Participants' variability in responses suggests that functional criteria associated with the 7 characteristics of a dental home would be helpful in determining the success of providing a dental home. A potential construct for a dental home index was suggested.
Authors: Donald L Chi; Elizabeth T Momany; Lloyd A Mancl; Scott D Lindgren; Samuel H Zinner; Kyle J Steinman Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2015-10-26 Impact factor: 5.043