Patterns of dental service use among homeless people using a targeted service.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe the patterns of dental service use among homeless people using a targeted dental service from 1992 to 2001.


METHODS
A case-note review of a selection of patients (n = 204) was undertaken using a pre-designed data abstraction form.


RESULTS
For those presenting at their first contact, 40 percent (n = 68) expressed need in relation to oral pain and disease/tissue damage, and 28 percent (n = 33) in relation to dental checking and oral prophylaxis. Most homeless people had normative need for dental treatment (93 percent: n = 153). The dental service was delivered using a mix of outreach and fixed site clinics, with 75 percent (n = 153) of all first contacts made at outreach clinics. The targeted service was moderately successful at getting people to attend the fixed site service for continuing care, with 51 percent (n = 87) attending for subsequent visits. Location of first contact with the targeted dental service did not predict subsequent attendance. Those who did attend for further care tended to have normative needs for periodontal disease and dental decay and have their presenting complaint met. Only 23 percent (n = 46) of people completed a treatment plan, over a mean of 8.2 (standard deviation +/- 9.4) visits. No factors appeared to predict completion of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
While the small sample limits the findings in this study, it is hypothesized that the presence of the dental service promoted uptake of dental care. Flexible attendance tended to result in multiple visits and delayed outcomes, which themselves could have acted as barriers to care.
Daly
Blánaid
B
The Oral Health, Workforce & Education Group, Kings College London Dental Institute, Denmark Hill Campus, UK. blanaid.daly@kcl.ac.uk
Newton
J Tim
JT
Batchelor
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003740:Dental Clinics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003777:Dental Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014098:Toothache / Q000628:therapy