Perception of oral health needs by Southeast Iowa non-dental health care providers.
The purposes of this dental study were to identify, among non-dental health care providers and administrators, (1) those reasons assessed to be most persuasive in adopting selected dental preventive practices, (2) barriers perceived to be present for their clients to obtain dental services, and (3) practices which would make dental services more available to their clients. A nine-item dental care/attitude survey was completed by 82% (n = 68) of the health care and social services providers/administrators attending one of the United Way of East Central Iowa group meetings. The results of this survey indicated that, for these respondents, the most persuasive reasons for adopting preventive dental practice behaviors were based on susceptibility to disease and social and esthetic benefits. Further, the results of this survey showed that female respondents gave significantly higher scores than males to the importance of social benefits (self-worth and employment marketability), health benefits, and the importance that authority figures (dentists and physicians) placed on the behavior. Fifty-one percent of the respondents knew of patients who had problems obtaining dental services. The main reasons given for clients' access problems were the lack of money, the lack of insurance, and the lack of transportation.
Bolden
A J
AJ
Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry and the School of Social Work, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Logan
H L
HL
Jakobsen
J R
JR
Evans
T A
TA
D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011313:Preventive Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D012947:Social Work / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires