Rural public dental practice in Australia: perspectives of Tasmanian government-employed dentists.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to describe the perspectives of dentists providing public dental care in the Australian rural state of Tasmania. It sought information on a range of subjects, such as interactions with patients, as a component of baseline studies to improve models of public dental clinical services. It was conducted through a unique partnership between the University of Tasmania (Department of Rural Health) and the State government.


METHODS
Semistructured face-to-face interviews. Qualitative methods guided collection and analysis with the application of grounded theory as a basis for developing explanatory thematic frameworks.


METHODS
Four regional public dental centres in Tasmania.


METHODS
Government-employed dentists.


RESULTS
Three main themes emerged. (i) Wanting autonomy in clinical decisions, although this was often difficult to achieve in the existing circumstances; (ii) social interactive aspects of care, which were related to the dentists' perceptions of the patients' level of interest in oral health; and (iii) the level of demand for urgent episodic care, which was very difficult to manage in the light of the workforce shortage and was seen to impact on continuity of care, efficiency and integration with other health services.


CONCLUSIONS
There are strong indications that expanding the capacity and the flexibility of the workforce will contribute to improved interactions with patients and improve access to a broader range of dental care within public-sector clinical services.
Cane
Rosemary
R
University Department of Rural Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia. rosemary.cane@utas.edu.au
Walker
Judi
J
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003815:Dentists / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004630:Emergencies; D004651:Employment; D006076:Government; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D024382:Professional Role; D017150:Public Sector / Q000458:organization & administration*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013648:Tasmania; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration