Self-initiated reasons for utilizing dental services by Thai adult patients attending a rural public hospital

Abstract

This study is a retrospective descriptive study of the patients’ self-initiated reasons for utilizing dental services and correspondingly received dental care interventions provided by a rural public hospital in Southern Thailand. This study is also an analytical study of association between independent factors (age, gender, and dental insurance status) and a dependent factor (categories of self-initiated reasons for utilizing dental services). Investigation of an association between dental insurance statuses, especially the Universal Coverage Scheme, and the preventive means reasons for utilizing dental services is emphasized. Descriptive statistics was used to describe what was observed in the sample numerically. Numerical descriptors include median for continuous data, and frequency distribution and percentage for describing categorical data. Chi-square tests of the association between the independent variables and the outcome variable were used. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was undertaken to identify factors independently associated with the outcome variable. The study assessed statistical significance of each analysis against α value of 0.5. The main reason for utilizing dental services was for treatments. Only limited number of patients aimed to use preventive dental services. Almost all of the received dental care interventions were curative treatment and rehabilitation. Age and being covered by Universal Coverage Scheme showed significant associations with main categories of reasons for utilizing dental services. Adult patients, aged between 20-60 years old, were more likely to express preventive reasons for utilizing dental services than the elderly, aged 61 years old and over. Patients who were insured by Universal Coverage Scheme were more likely to express preventive reasons for utilizing dental service than patients with other dental insurance statuses. Nevertheless, very low percentage of patients expressing preventive reasons for utilizing dental services must be noted.