title: Opinions on the provision of dental care in Iowa nursing homes.
abstract: Using a stratified random sample, a questionnaire was mailed to 400 practicing dentists and 200 directors of nursing (DONs). Response rates were 58.3% for dentists and 50% for DONs. Dentists were representative of Iowa dentists, with 85% male, mean age 49.1 years, and 22.4 years in practice. All DONs were female, with mean age of 44.9 years. Of the participating dentists, 86% had provided dental care for nursing home residents, but the majority of care was completed in dental offices. Three-quarters of dentists were somewhat/not interested in nursing home dentistry. Dentists and DONs held common perceptions of the most frequent problems related to care provision at nursing homes: low financial reimbursement, especially for Medicaid patients; no portable dental equipment; no suitable area for dentistry; dentist's preference to treat patients at their dental practice; and transportation of residents to a dental practice. Dentists and DONs had some differing perceptions about oral health care (p < .01). Minimal dental care was provided on-site at Iowa nursing homes.
authors.affiliation: Lewis University, Romeoville, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nunez
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chalmers
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Warren
authors.forename: Ronald L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ettinger
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016321:Dental Care for Aged / Q000523:psychology*; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000523:psychology*; D009735:Nursing Homes; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult