IADR Abstract Archives
Outcomes from an intervention referring older adults to dental care
Objectives: Long waiting times for public dental services impede timely preventive and restorative care for older Australians. We report on an intervention in South Australia which compared general and oral health outcomes among adults aged 75+ years who were referred to either prioritised care (no waitlisting) or waitlisted care (4-6 months wait) at a South Australian Dental Service clinic.
Methods: Recruitment of participants at baseline (n=549) was conducted via health assessments at 48 general practice clinics across metropolitan Adelaide in 2013-2015. Participants were randomised to either prioritised or waitlisted care, and simultaneously sent a baseline questionnaire which included measures of self-rated oral health, oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14), self-rated general health, and health utility (EuroQol). Respondents (78% response rate) were sent a follow-up questionnaire one year on (71% response rate at follow-up). The follow-up instrument added two transition statements that elicited self-perceived change in oral and general health.
Results: Overall, from baseline to follow-up participants reported improvements in oral health (13%) and general health (9%), and OHIP scores declined (mean change -2.9), however health utility scores decreased (-0.03). The magnitude of change did not differ significantly between prioritised and waitlisted groups for any measure; in regression analyses of outcomes adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors, no outcome was associated with intervention group.
Conclusions: Findings from the intervention indicated that referral for public dental care for eligible older adults, regardless of timing, can improve oral health and reduce oral health impacts, which may translate to improved general health.
Methods: Recruitment of participants at baseline (n=549) was conducted via health assessments at 48 general practice clinics across metropolitan Adelaide in 2013-2015. Participants were randomised to either prioritised or waitlisted care, and simultaneously sent a baseline questionnaire which included measures of self-rated oral health, oral health-related quality of life (OHIP-14), self-rated general health, and health utility (EuroQol). Respondents (78% response rate) were sent a follow-up questionnaire one year on (71% response rate at follow-up). The follow-up instrument added two transition statements that elicited self-perceived change in oral and general health.
Results: Overall, from baseline to follow-up participants reported improvements in oral health (13%) and general health (9%), and OHIP scores declined (mean change -2.9), however health utility scores decreased (-0.03). The magnitude of change did not differ significantly between prioritised and waitlisted groups for any measure; in regression analyses of outcomes adjusted for demographic and socioeconomic factors, no outcome was associated with intervention group.
Conclusions: Findings from the intervention indicated that referral for public dental care for eligible older adults, regardless of timing, can improve oral health and reduce oral health impacts, which may translate to improved general health.