title: Oral care for special needs patients: a survey of Nebraska general dentists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this survey was to assess the attitudes, behavior, and demographics of general dentists in Nebraska regarding their providing oral health care to patients with special health care needs (PSHCN).
  
  
  METHODS
  A 14-item questionnaire and accompanying cover letter were sent to 800 licensed general dentists in Nebraska. The survey asked for the dentists' demographic information and questions about their PSCHN. Responses to the questionnaire were tabulated, and percent frequency distributions for responses to each item were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 800 surveys sent, 371 (approximately 46%) were returned. Solo practitioners were more likely to report seeing PSCHN (P<.001). Most respondents see all ages, but approximately 10% see only PSCHN over 18-years-old. The most common reasons given to improve the practitioners' ability to care for PSCHN were improved reimbursement (approximately 35%) and more continuing education (approximately 36%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data indicate that most general dentists surveyed in Nebraska see special needs patients of all ages. The most common reasons for not seeing more special needs patients were the level of the patient's disease, the patient's behavior, and insufficient training/experience.
authors: Department of Growth and Development, College of Dentistry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA. fsalama@unmc.edu
authors: Fouad Saad
authors: FS
authors: Salama
authors: Amy
authors: A
authors: Kebriaei
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Durham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D032763:Behavior Control / Q000379:methods; D003710:Demography; D003730:Dental Care for Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D004498:Education, Dental, Continuing; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009329:Nebraska; D020380:Needs Assessment; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060926:Remuneration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult