Physicians referral of HIV+ patients for oral health checkup appointments.

Objectives: To determine the impact of the physician's perception of oral health on the referral decision for dental checkup appointments of HIV+ subjects.
Methods: Forty resident medical practitioners, health care providers of 40 HIV+ patients in public health services in Buenos Aires city, completed the validated questionnaire PPOH-HIV (HIV-related Physicians’ Perception of Oral Health Profile, Sánchez et al., 2014), to determine their professional perception of oral health. PPOH-HIV was completed immediately after the first medical appointment of recently diagnosed HIV+ patients. The global and individual PPOH-HIV domains scores were determined and the odd of the referral of patients was calculated. Binary logistic regression was used to test each PPOH-HIV domain for significance as independent predictors of the referral decision for dental checkup (p < 0.05).
Results: The odd of referral for oral health care was 0.48. The global oral health perception reported by medical practitioners was 59% (median score 65, range 43-76). The logistic regression model was statistically significant (ji²= 50.4, p < 0.0005) and explained 72% of variance (Nagelkerke's R²) of the referral decision. Ninety three % of the cases were satisfactorily classified by the model. The individualized domains of PPOH-HIV were significant predictors of the referral decision: Domain 1: knowledge of oral health OR= 3.1, CI95 [2.6-5.3]; Domain 2: personal experience with oral health OR= 1.9, CI95 [1.1-3.3]; Domain 3: knowledge of oral health related to HIV OR= 3.7, CI95 [3.1-6.4] and Domain 4: medical practices OR= 0.4, IC95 [0.2-0.9].
Conclusions: The questionnaire PPOH-HIV is a significant predictor of the physician's referral decision for oral health care of HIV+ patients. The referral for oral health care is a complex function which stimulation requires the interdisciplinary work of health care professionals. Grant UBACyT 20020120100324BA (2013-2016).