Appropriate responses by elders to oral symptoms: dentists' recommendations.
This paper reports the results of a study of dentists' recommendations regarding the appropriate health action of elders in response to certain oral common symptoms and problems. Previous studies have found that elders most commonly respond to oral symptoms by using nonprofessional means. This study found that, without exception, the recommendation to consult a dentist was the primary mode of response favored by dentists, even in response to symptoms and problems that are most often trivial and rarely indicative of serious health problems. The results of this pilot study suggest that the need exists for dentists to reach a more realistic consensus regarding alternatives to professional consultation in response to some symptoms and problems.
Holtzman
J M
JM
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Health, UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School, Newark 07103-2400, USA.
Guttman
Y
Y
Berkey
D B
DB
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003726:Dental Assistants; D003729:Dental Care; D003756:Dental Hygienists; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009909:Oral Health; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012648:Self Care; D012737:Sex Factors