title: The involvement of Iowa dentists in hospice care.
abstract: The relationships between dentist characteristics and professional education with involvement of Iowa dentists in hospice care were investigated. Using the 1999 Iowa Health Professional database, a survey requesting information regarding involvement in and training for care of hospice patients was mailed to all licensed dentists (N = 1,210). Two mailings yielded a 54.6% response rate. Of the 638 dentist respondents, the mean age was 47, 86% were male, 88% general dentists, and 295 (46%) reported providing some treatment for hospice patients. At least one dentist reported providing hospice patient care in 72 of Iowa's 99 counties. About 90% of dentists treating hospice patients were general practitioners. Males were more likely to provide treatment (p < 0.0313). Neither dentist age nor years in practice were significant predictors. Dentists were more likely to treat hospice patients in the office (IO, 40%). The most prevalent treatments were denture relines (31% IO; 71% OO), examinations (16% IO; 68% OO), and emergency treatment (12.5% IO; 53% OO). More than 86% of surveyed dentists indicated that their professional education did not adequately train them to meet the clinical, psychosocial, communication, or spiritual needs of hospice patients.
authors: Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Iowa College of Dentistry.
authors: Monica M
authors: MM
authors: Wilwert
authors: Catherine A
authors: CA
authors: Watkins
authors: Ronald L
authors: RL
authors: Ettinger
authors: Howard J
authors: HJ
authors: Cowen
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Qian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003142:Communication; D003729:Dental Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003770:Dental Offices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003823:Denture Rebasing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004497:Education, Dental; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006124:Group Practice, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa; D008297:Male; D008484:Medicaid / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D014481:United States