Methods: A sample of 4-18 year-old children continuously enrolled in five SCHIP dental plans for 12 months was drawn according to modified NCQA/CAHPS® 2.0H protocols. Surveys were mailed to caregivers in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese. Scores reflecting five domains (getting needed care, timeliness of care, communication, staff helpfulness, customer service) and global ratings of care (dentist, dental plan) were regressed on years in the plan, type of regular dentist, ER use, dental care use, survey language, child’s reported dental health, presence of child emotional, developmental or behavioral problems, child’s age, gender and race/ethnicity, and parent’s age, gender and educational attainment.
Results: Data for 2001/2002, respectively, yielded 2536/2232 usable surveys (response rates: 50%/56%). The final pooled sample represented 4036 SCHIP child enrollees who used their plan for all or most of their dental care. The most consistent associations were that caregivers of children without a regular dentist and in worse dental health indicated more negative experiences and perceptions of dental care. Caregivers of children with more visits, white race, and parental education less than high school reported more positive experiences, while male parents reported more negative experiences and ratings about care. Spanish language respondents reported significantly more negative experiences with getting needed care and customer service, but rated dentists and plans more positively than English respondents.
Conclusions: This study revealed important differences in California SCHIP enrollee caregivers’ perceptions of dental care associated with having a regular dentist, utilization, health, race, gender, language, and education. Supported by HRSA/MCHB CompCare (UCLA grant # 02-713-01) and NIH # P20-MD00148-01.