Carlos Quiñonez

Predictors of dental care utilization among working poor Canadians.

OBJECTIVE This study used the Gelberg-Andersen Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations to identify predictors of dental care utilization by working poor Canadians. METHODS A cross-sectional stratified sampling study design and telephone survey methodology was used to collect data from a nationally representative sample of 1049 working poor individuals aged 18 to 64 years. Working poor persons worked > or = 20 h a week, were not full-time students and had annual family incomes <

Emergency department visits for dental care of nontraumatic origin

34,300. A pretested questionnaire included sociodemographic items, self-reported oral health measures and two dental care utilization outcomes: time since their last dental visit and the usual reason for dental visits. RESULTS Hierarchical stepwise logistic analyses identified independent predictors associated with visiting the dentist >1 year ago: male gender (OR = 1.63; P = 0.005), aged 25-34 years (OR = 2.05; P = 0.02), paying for dental care with cash or credit (OR = 2.31; P < 0.001), past welfare recipients (OR = 1.65; P = 0.03), <21 teeth (OR = 4.23; P < 0.001) and having a perceived need for dental treatment (OR=2.78; P < 0.001). Sacrificing goods or services to pay for dental treatment was associated with visiting the dentist within the past year. The predictors of visiting the dentist only when in pain/trouble were lone parent status (OR = 4.04; P < 0.001), immigrant status (OR = 1.72; P = 0.006), paying for dental care with cash or credit (OR = 2.71; P < 0.001), a history of an inability to afford dental care (OR = 1.62; P = 0.01), a satisfactory/poor/very poor self-rated oral health (OR = 2.10; P < 0.001), number of teeth <21 (OR = 2.58; P < 0.001) and having a perceived need for dental treatment (OR = 2.99; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS This study identified predisposing and enabling vulnerabilities that jeopardize the dental care-seeking practices of working poor persons. Dental care utilization was associated with relinquishing spending on other goods and services, which suggests that dental care utilization is a competing financial demand for economically constrained adults.

Equity in dental care among Canadian households

OBJECTIVES To explore the nature of emergency department (ED) visits for dental problems of nontraumatic origin in Canadas largest province, Ontario. METHODS The Canadian Institute for Health Informations National Ambulatory Care Reporting System was used, which contains demographic, diagnostic, procedural and administrative information from hospital-based ambulatory care settings across Ontario. Data of fiscal years 2003/04 to 2005/06 were included for emergency visits that had a main problem coded with an International Classification of Diseases - 10th edition code in the range K00-K14, representing diseases of the oral cavity, salivary glands and jaws. Volumes are presented by a number of different factors in order to describe patient and visit characteristics. RESULTS During this period, there were a total of 141 365 ED visits for dental problems of nontraumatic origin in Ontario, representing an estimated 116 357 persons. Approximately half of all visits (54%) were made by those 20 to 44 years old, and associated with periapical abscesses and toothaches (56%). The great majority (78%) were triaged as nonurgent, and most (93%) were discharged home. CONCLUSION ED visits for dental problems of nontraumatic origin are not insignificant. Over the study period, these visits were greater than for diabetes and hypertensive diseases. Policy efforts are needed to provide alternative options for seeking emergency dental care in Ontario.

Time loss due to dental problems and treatment in the Canadian population: analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional survey

BackgroundChanges in third party financing, whether public or private, are linked to a households ability to access dental care. By removing costs at point of purchase, changes in financing influence the need to reach into ones pocket, thus facilitating or limiting access. This study asks: How have historical changes in dental care financing influenced household out-of-pocket expenditures for dental care in Canada?MethodsThis is a mixed methods study, comprised of an historical review of Canadas dental care market and an econometric analysis of household out-of-pocket expenditures for dental care.ResultsWe demonstrate that changes in financing have important implications for out-of-pocket expenditures: with more financing come drops in the amount a household has to spend, and with less financing come increases. Low- and middle-income households appear to be most sensitive to changes in financing.ConclusionsAlleviating the price barrier to care is a fundamental part of improving equity in dental care in Canada. How people have historically spent money on dental care highlights important gaps in Canadian dental care policy.

Public preferences for seeking publicly financed dental care and professional preferences for structuring it

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to quantify time loss due to dental problems and treatment in the Canadian population, to identify factors associated with this time loss, and to provide information regarding the economic impacts of these issues.MethodsData from the 2007/09 Canadian Health Measures Survey were used. Descriptive analysis determined the proportion of those surveyed who reported time loss and the mean hours lost. Linear and logistic regressions were employed to determine what factors predicted hours lost and reporting time loss respectively. Productivity losses were estimated using the lost wages approach.ResultsOver 40 million hours per year were lost due to dental problems and treatment, with a mean of 3.5 hours being lost per person. Time loss was more likely among privately insured and higher income earners. The amount of time loss was greater for higher income earners, and those who reported experiencing oral pain. Experiencing oral pain was the strongest predictor of reporting time loss and the amount of time lost.ConclusionsThis study has shown that, potentially, over 40 million hours are lost annually due to dental problems and treatment in Canada, with subsequent potential productivity losses of over

Public awareness of income-related health inequalities in Ontario, Canada

1 billion dollars. These losses are comparable to those experienced for other illnesses (e.g., musculoskeletal sprains). Further investigation into the underlying reasons for time loss, and which aspects of daily living are impacted by this time loss, are necessary for a fuller understanding of the policy implications associated with the economic impacts of dental problems and treatment in Canadian society.

The magnitude of oral health inequalities in Canada: findings of the Canadian health measures survey

OBJECTIVES To test the hypotheses that socially marginalised Canadians are more likely to prefer seeking dental care in a public rather than private setting, and that Canadian dentists are more likely to prefer public dental care plans that approximate private insurance processes. METHODS Data on public opinion were collected through a weekly national omnibus survey based on random digit dialling and telephone interview technology (n = 1005, >18 years). Data on professional opinion were collected through a national mail-out survey of a random selection of Canadian dentists (n = 2219, response rate = 45.8%). Dental and socio-demographic data were collected for the public, as were professional demographic data for dentists. Descriptive and basic regression analyses were undertaken. RESULTS The majority of Canadians surveyed, 66.4%, prefer to seek dental care in a private setting, 19% in a community clinic, and 7.6% in a dental school; those that are younger and of lowest incomes are most likely to prefer seeking dental care in a public setting. Most Canadian dentists, 80.9%, believe that governments should be involved in dental care, yet only 46% believe this role should include direct delivery. A third of dentists have also reduced the amount of publicly insured patients in their practice. Canadian dentists are more likely to prefer those public plans that most closely reflect private insurance mechanisms. CONCLUSION There appears to be a policy disconnect between the preferences of those populations where governmental involvement is most warranted, and the current mechanisms for financing and delivering dental care in Canada. By concentrating almost exclusively on third-party-type financing and indirect delivery, public dental care policy may not be adequately responding to those most in need, especially in an environment where dentists are largely dissatisfied with public plans.

Dental treatment needs in the Canadian population: analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional survey

IntroductionContinued action is needed to tackle health inequalities in Canada, as those of lower income continue to be at higher risk for a range of negative health outcomes. There is arguably a lack of political will to implement policy change in this respect. As a result, we investigated public awareness of income-related health inequalities in a generally representative sample of Ontarians in late 2010.MethodsData were collected from 2,006 Ontario adults using a telephone survey. The survey asked participants to agree or disagree with various statements asserting that there are or are not health inequalities in general and by income in Ontario, including questions pertaining to nine specific conditions for which inequalities have been described in Ontario. A multi-stage process using binary logistic regression determined whether awareness of health inequalities differed between participant subgroups.ResultsAlmost 73% of this sample of Ontarians agreed with the general premise that not all people are equally healthy in Ontario, but fewer participants were aware of health inequalities between the rich and the poor (53%–64%, depending on the framing of the question). Awareness of income-related inequalities in specific outcomes was considerably lower, ranging from 18% for accidents to 35% for obesity.ConclusionsThis is the first province-wide study in Canada, and the first in Ontario, to explore public awareness on health inequalities. Given that political will is shaped by public awareness and opinion, these results suggest that greater awareness may be required to move the health equity agenda forward in Ontario. There is a need for health equity advocates, physicians and researchers to increase the effectiveness of knowledge translation activities for studies that identify and explore health inequalities.

Is Accessing Dental Care Becoming More Difficult? Evidence from Canada's Middle-Income Population

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to measure the magnitude of income-related inequality for four oral health outcomes in Canada. The degree of oral health inequality according to sex was also compared. METHODS Data for this study are from the year 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measure Survey (CHMS). The sample size consisted of 4951 Canadians aged 6-79 (2409 men and 2542 women). The oral health indicators used were the number of decayed teeth, number of missing teeth, number of filled teeth, and oral pain in the past year. Socioeconomic status was measured as equivalized household income. We used the relative concentration index to quantify health inequalities. Data analyses were performed using STATA 11.1 and ADePT (4.0). RESULTS The number of decayed teeth, the number of missing teeth and the prevalence of oral pain decreased with increasing income, while the number of filled teeth increased with increasing income. The relative concentration indices for decayed teeth, missing teeth, filled teeth and for oral pain were -0.264, -0.157, 0.085, and -0.120, respectively. There was a statistically significant deviation from equality for the four oral health outcomes and this was generally present for both sexes. The relative concentration indices for decayed teeth were statistically significantly larger than other oral health outcomes. The relative concentration indices for women were greater than those of males indicating a greater magnitude of inequality among women. CONCLUSIONS There was a higher concentration of decayed teeth, missing teeth and oral pain in the worse off, while the more affluent had a greater concentration of filled teeth. The numbers of decayed teeth was the most unequal aspect of oral health comparatively. There was a sex difference in the pattern of oral health inequalities with greater magnitude of inequality present among women in terms of the number of decayed and missing teeth. Health policymakers should consider the magnitude of health inequalities according to outcome and between sexes in their decision to tackle oral health inequalities.

How Do People Attribute Income-Related Inequalities in Health? A Cross-Sectional Study in Ontario, Canada

BackgroundNationally representative clinical data on the oral health needs of Canadians has not been available since the 1970s. The purpose of this study was to determine the normative treatment needs of a nationally representative sample of Canadians and describe how these needs were distributed.MethodsA secondary analysis of data collected through the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) was undertaken. Sampling and bootstrap weights were applied to make the data nationally representative. Descriptive frequencies were used to examine the sample characteristics and to examine the treatment type(s) needed by the population. Bivariate logistic regressions were used to see if any characteristics were predictive of having an unmet dental treatment need, and of having specific treatment needs. Lastly, multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the strongest predictors of having an unmet dental treatment need.ResultsMost of the population had no treatment needs and of the 34.2% who did, most needed restorative (20.4%) and preventive (13.7%) care. The strongest predictors of need were having poor oral health, reporting a self-perceived need for treatment and visiting the dentist infrequently.ConclusionsIt is estimated that roughly 12 million Canadians have at least one unmet dental treatment need. Policymakers now have information by which to assess if programs match the dental treatment needs of Canadians and of particular subgroups experiencing excess risk.