Ye Seol Lee1,2, Juyeong Kim3, Yoon Soo Choy4, Eunkyong Kim5, Jaehyun Yoo5,6. 1. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea. 2. National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Research Institute, National Traffic Injury Rehabilitation Hospital, Yangpyeong 12564, Korea. 3. Department of Public Health, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea. 4. Center for Global Healthcare, Eulji University, Seongnam 13135, Korea. 5. Laboratory of Health & Exercise Science, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea. 6. Department of Leisure and Sports Studies, Sahmyook University, Seoul 01795, Korea.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dental health is an important factor in daily life routines and is closely associated with maintaining a health-related quality of life. This study examined denture procedure changes after implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Coverage of Dentures for the elderly. METHODS: We used the "Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS)" developed by the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. We analyzed the association between policy implementation and dental health-related outcomes using difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to compare patients aged ≥75 with those 65-74 years before and after coverage. RESULTS: A comparison of age groups and coverage periods showed that patients aged ≥75 years had higher (OR: 1.038, 95% CI: 1.021-1.055) procedure rates after coverage. In particular, elderly patients on medical aid had significantly higher denture procedure rates, while those without oral health screening were more likely to have denture procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This study determined the impact of the NHI Coverage of Denture procedure policy for the elderly and found increased denture treatments in the elderly. This policy appeared to positively affect older patients by increasing denture procedures for low-income and medical aid beneficiaries. Hence, the government needs to increase oral health examination and dental health policies for the elderly.
BACKGROUND: Dental health is an important factor in daily life routines and is closely associated with maintaining a health-related quality of life. This study examined denture procedure changes after implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI) Coverage of Dentures for the elderly. METHODS: We used the "Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS)" developed by the Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention. We analyzed the association between policy implementation and dental health-related outcomes using difference-in-differences (DID) analysis to compare patients aged ≥75 with those 65-74 years before and after coverage. RESULTS: A comparison of age groups and coverage periods showed that patients aged ≥75 years had higher (OR: 1.038, 95% CI: 1.021-1.055) procedure rates after coverage. In particular, elderly patients on medical aid had significantly higher denture procedure rates, while those without oral health screening were more likely to have denture procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This study determined the impact of the NHI Coverage of Denture procedure policy for the elderly and found increased denture treatments in the elderly. This policy appeared to positively affect older patients by increasing denture procedures for low-income and medical aid beneficiaries. Hence, the government needs to increase oral health examination and dental health policies for the elderly.
Authors: Amy S Kelley; Kathleen McGarry; Sean Fahle; Samuel M Marshall; Qingling Du; Jonathan S Skinner Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2012-09-05 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Soo Jeong Kim; Jin A Han; Young Hwa Kim; Bo Youl Choi; Su Young Kim; Hun Je Lee; In Hwan Oh; Sung-Il Cho; Jakyoung Lee; Soon Young Lee Journal: Epidemiol Health Date: 2015-10-20