Contemporary dental practice in the UK: demographic data and practising arrangements.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate, by questionnaire, various aspects of primary dental care provision in the North West of England and Scotland.


METHODS
A questionnaire containing 79 questions was sent to 1,000 practitioners, selected at random, in the North West of England and Scotland. Non-responders were sent another questionnaire after a period of 4 weeks had elapsed.


RESULTS
Overall a response rate of 70% was achieved. The majority of practitioners were practice principals (65%), working in a group NHS practice (80%) located in a city or town centre (49%). On average 10-20 patients were treated each session with fewer patients treated per session under private arrangements. Many practitioners were found to lack hygienist support (44%) and to employ unqualified dental nurses (82%). Younger practitioners were more likely than senior colleagues to have access to up-to-date computers whilst 37% and 74% of respondents never used CAL programmes or magnification respectively. Contemporary cross-infection control standards were used by the majority of practitioners, although 3% of practitioners reported only autoclaving their handpiece once a day.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of practitioners, involved in this study, worked under National Health Service (NHS) regulations as principals in a group practice where the workload was greater than the private/independent sector. Contemporary cross-infection procedures were used routinely. In contrast computer-aided learning programmes and magnification were not used routinely. The practitioners in this study employed significant numbers of unqualified dental nurses.
Burke
F J T
FJ
University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, St.Chad's Queensway, Birmingham B4 6NN, UK.
Wilson
N H F
NH
Christensen
G J
GJ
Cheung
S W
SW
Brunton
P A
PA
D000766:Anesthesia, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003201:Computers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003727:Dental Auxiliaries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003748:Dental Equipment; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006124:Group Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019552:Infection Control, Dental; D007909:Lenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012606:Scotland; D013218:State Dentistry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016526:Workload