 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Linda Carroll, RDH, Stacey B Plichta, ScD, Lindsay Rettie, EdD, and Colin Box, HsD. College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, 129 Spong Hall, Norfolk, VA 23529
Purpose: 75% of Americans visit a dental hygienist each year. Little is known about the proportion who follow home care instructions and who return for another visit. This study examines how patient health beliefs and patient-rated hygienist behavior can influence these behaviors.
Methods: All 1,943 faculty, classified and administrative employees of a state university were surveyed via campus mail (RR=52%). Questions were asked about SES characteristics, oral health maintenance behaviors, dental health beliefs, and perceptions of their hygienist. This analysis focuses on the 754 with a hygienist. Respondents were representative of the workforce; 67% female, 69% white and incomes ranging from $10,000- $100,000+. Multiple logistic regression models determined the factors that significantly increased the odds of oral health maintenance behaviors.
Results: 75% performed home care and 84% returned for a check-up. In regression models, those rating the hygienist as humanistic were over 3 times more likely to maintain regular checkups, and were 1.7 times more likely to follow home care instructions. Those perceiving dental disease as serious, and perceiving few barriers to care were also more likely to engage in both behaviors. Those perceiving themselves as susceptible to dental disease were significantly less likely to engage in both behaviors.
Conclusions: Patient perceptions their hygienist were the strongest predictor of returning for care, and a good predictor of the patient following home care instructions. Hygienists need to talk with patients, show concern and respect, and help patients understand the seriousness of dental disease. Hygienists also need to help alleviate fears among those who perceive themselves as vulnerable to disease.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Oral Health, Health Behavior
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.