Utilisation of domiciliary dental services.
OBJECTIVE
To develop undergraduate dental student understanding of the attitudes of elderly people towards dentistry and of the barriers which prevent them from seeking treatment.


METHODS
Each student interviewed a) an elderly person already known to them and b) an elderly person at a Day Rehabilitation Unit using a questionnaire. Students were not trained nor standardised.


METHODS
a) in the student's home locality, b) in a Rehabilitation Unit in Sheffield.


METHODS
161 people were interviewed with mean ages a) 78 years and b) 85 years.


METHODS
Perceptions of treatment need and domiciliary treatment by these elderly people. The results are summarised but not analysed because of the inherent limitations of data derived by unsupervised students.


CONCLUSIONS
This educational exercise successfully engaged the studentsí minds and, for some, generated enthusiasm. They achieved valuable insight into the topic and realised that many people who inevitably have dental problems either feel that this is acceptable or do not know that they can obtain domiciliary dental care.
Kinsey
J G
JG
School of Clinical Dentistry, Sheffield, UK.
Winstanley
R B
RB
D000368:Aged; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004497:Education, Dental; D005850:Geriatric Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012647:Self-Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires