Pieternella C Bots-VantSpijker1,2, Josef J M Bruers2,3, Casper P Bots4, Jacques N O Vanobbergen1,5, Luc M J De Visschere1,5, Cees de Baat1,6, Jos M G A Schols1,7. 1. Flemish-Netherlands Geriatric Oral Research Group, BENECOMO, Ghent, Belgium. 2. Department of Social Dentistry and Behavioural Sciences, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Research and Information, Royal Dutch Dental Association (KNMT), Nieuwegein, the Netherlands. 4. Department of Oral Biochemistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. 5. Department of Community Dentistry and Oral Public Health, Dental School, University Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. 6. Department of Oral Function and Prosthetic Dentistry, Radboud university medical center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. 7. Caphri/Department of Family Medicine and Department Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent dentists in the Netherlands experience barriers in providing oral health care to community-dwelling older people. BACKGROUND: As most publications on the barriers in providing oral health care to older people consist of surveys on oral health care in care homes, it was decided to investigate the barriers dentists experience in their own dental practices while providing oral health care to community-dwelling frail older people. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A representative sample of 1592 of the approximately 8000 dentists in the Netherlands aged 64 or younger were invited to respond to a questionnaire online. The dentists were asked to respond to 15 opinions concerning oral healthcare provision to community-dwelling frail older people aged 75 years or more who experience problems in physical, psychological and social areas, as well as possible financial problems. RESULTS: The total response rate was 37% (n = 595; male=76%; average age 49). The majority of those who responded agreed that the reimbursement of oral health care to older people is poor. Two thirds of those who responded (66%) agreed that there are limited opportunities to refer the frail and elderly with complex oral healthcare problems to a colleague with specific knowledge and skills. CONCLUSION: Dentists experienced barriers in two domains; a lack of knowledge and practical circumstances. It was concluded that the dentist's gender, age, year of graduation and the number of patients aged 75 years or more treated weekly were in some respect, related to the barriers encountered.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent dentists in the Netherlands experience barriers in providing oral health care to community-dwelling older people. BACKGROUND: As most publications on the barriers in providing oral health care to older people consist of surveys on oral health care in care homes, it was decided to investigate the barriers dentists experience in their own dental practices while providing oral health care to community-dwelling frail older people. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A representative sample of 1592 of the approximately 8000 dentists in the Netherlands aged 64 or younger were invited to respond to a questionnaire online. The dentists were asked to respond to 15 opinions concerning oral healthcare provision to community-dwelling frail older people aged 75 years or more who experience problems in physical, psychological and social areas, as well as possible financial problems. RESULTS: The total response rate was 37% (n = 595; male=76%; average age 49). The majority of those who responded agreed that the reimbursement of oral health care to older people is poor. Two thirds of those who responded (66%) agreed that there are limited opportunities to refer the frail and elderly with complex oral healthcare problems to a colleague with specific knowledge and skills. CONCLUSION: Dentists experienced barriers in two domains; a lack of knowledge and practical circumstances. It was concluded that the dentist's gender, age, year of graduation and the number of patients aged 75 years or more treated weekly were in some respect, related to the barriers encountered.
Authors: Pieternella C Bots-VantSpijker; Claar D van der Maarel-Wierink; Jos M G A Schols; Josef J M Bruers Journal: Int Dent J Date: 2021-07-17 Impact factor: 2.607
Authors: Daria Madunic; Lidia Gavic; Ivan Kovacic; Neven Vidovic; Jasen Vladislavic; Antonija Tadin Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-03-22 Impact factor: 3.390