Dental services for adults with a learning disability: care managers' experiences and opinions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate care managers' experiences in obtaining dental services for their clients.


METHODS
Descriptive survey collecting qualitative and quantitative data by semi-structured interviews.


METHODS
Inner London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.


METHODS
Care managers or their delegated representatives in all homes listed in June 1996 by the registration and inspection units of the boroughs' social services departments, under the Registered Homes Acts (1984; 1991).


METHODS
Managers' experiences in obtaining dental services for their residents and their perception of their residents' current need for dental treatment. Perceived barriers to care.


RESULTS
Managers perceived a current need for dental treatment in 14% of the residents. In 4 out of 80 homes (5%) none of the clients had seen a dentist during the preceding 12 months, but not because homes had been unable to obtain services. The most common reason given by managers was that clients were unwilling to accept care. Continuity of care and partnership between carers and dentists were seen as facilitating co-operation. Eighty five per cent of homes made some use of the Community Dental Services.


CONCLUSIONS
Managers perceived that sufficient services were available in the area; the chief barrier to care was residents' reluctance to accept treatment. The Community Dental Service played an important role in the provision of dental services. Managers felt that the treatment of severely disabled patients required special skills and experience.
Pratelli
P
P
Department of Dental Public Health and Community Dental Education, King's College London, UK.
Gelbier
S
S
D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D003149:Community Dentistry; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008131:London; D012112:Residential Facilities; D016312:Treatment Refusal