The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #40727

Nina K. Anderson, PhD, Ann Zionic, DMD, and Donald B. Giddon, DMD, PhD. Growth and Development, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115

The purpose of this study was to determine regional differences in dental health professionals(DHP’s) towards eating disorders (ED) relative to expanding the roles of DHP’s to involvement with hypertension, skin cancer, smoking cessation and substance abuse affecting dental patients. Based on pilot testing (Tran et. al, 97) a 20 item Likert format survey was mailed to a sample of 1400 DHPs in three geographically disparate states (MA, CO, FL). The return rate was approximately 20% with proportionately more females than males responding. Slight inter-state variation in demographics, practice characteristics and number of confirmed/suspected ED patients had no effect on DHPs’ responses. Based on ordinal transformation of Likert responses, there were no significant gender differences in the responses among the states. There were however, highly significant differences in the magnitudes of willingness of DHPs to become involved in specific areas. They were most willing for smoking cessation (1.2 ± 0.47), moderately willing for cancer screening (1.5 ± 0.73) and hypertension (1.5 ± 0.82) but relatively unwilling for ED’s (2.1 ± 0.92, substance abuse(1.9 ± 0.94), and domestic violence (1.8 ± 0.99). Based on their perception of public attitudes towards expanded roles, the DHPs were not enthusiastic about increasing their involvement, with such resistance increasing with DHP age. Specific to EDs, DHPs are willing to prevent and treat the dental ravages of EDs but are reluctant to become more involved in more covert, nonreimbursable,personal areas. Increased educational efforts by health care and professional organizations are essential to expanding DHP roles.

Learning Objectives: The participant will be able to

• List six possible expanded roles for DHPs
• Describe the relative attitudes of DHP’s toward each of the actual/potential expanded roles.
• Identify differences in attitudes by region, gender and/or age.
• Discus DHP’s role in EDs.

Keywords: Oral Health, Oral Health Needs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.