Effect of medical, drug abuse, and mental health care on receipt of dental care by drug users.
We examined the association of patterns of health care in 1996 with subsequent dental care in 1997 or 1998 for 47,260 drug users enrolled in New York State Medicaid. From Medicaid files, we identified psychiatric care, prescribed antidepressants, a regular source of medical care, regular drug treatment (6+ contiguous months), and clinical conditions. Of this cohort, 58% received dental care. The adjusted odds ratios (AOR) of dental care were increased for drug users receiving psychiatric care and antidepressants (1.66 [1.55, 1.77]), psychiatric care alone (1.48 [1.41, 1.56]), or only antidepressants (1.18 [1.10, 1.27]), vs. neither. AORs of dental care were also higher for those with a regular source of medical care alone (1.27 [1.23, 1.35]) or with regular drug treatment (1.33 [CI 1.25, 1.41]) vs. neither. Mental health care and, to a lesser extent, a regular source of medical care and regular drug treatment may promote dental care in this vulnerable population.
Turner
Barbara J
BJ
Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. bturner@mail.med.upenn.edu
Laine
Christine
C
Cohen
Abigail
A
Hauck
Walter W
WW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002648:Child; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013221:State Health Plans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000821:virology; D014481:United States