Perceived Barriers Affecting Access to Preventive Dental Services: Application of DEMATEL Method

Abstract

BackgroundIdentifying perceived access barriers to preventive dental services is one of the basic steps to improve the public health.ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine the perceived barriers affecting access to preventive dental services in one of Tehran dental clinics in 2012.Patients and MethodsThis research was a cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study conducted in one of Tehran dental clinics in 2012 using decision–making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) method. The study sample included all patients (100 patients) who had referred to the endodontic treatment department from 26 - 31 May, 2012. The required data were collected using a questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 18.0 and MATLAB 7.9.0 SPSSS 18.0, as well as, some descriptive and analytical tests including Mean, Standard Deviation (SD), and Independent T- Test.ResultsThe five determinants of cost, inconvenience, fear, organization, and patient-dentist relationship were determined as barriers to access to dental services among which the cost and patient-dentist relationship were identified as the first and last priorities with the coordinates (1.4 and 1.4) and (1.25 and -0.65), respectively.ConclusionsHigh cost of dental care has led to not referring patients to the clinic. Oral health costs are too high; however insurance organizations have no commitment to support such services. Policymakers, administrators, and insurance organizations have a major role in improving access to dental services. These decision-makers in making their policies can provide the required financial resources, shift the available resources towards preventive care and periodic checkups, and consider providing proper and sufficient places for dental care facilities.

Survey-Based Research on Patients' Knowledge About Endodontic Treatment

“…Patients often stress that they are too high and the treatment should be financed by insurance benefits. Nevertheless, more than half of respondents is willing to pay a higher amount to avoid tooth loss, similarly as in the research of Bahadori et al [14].…”

A survey of patients’ perceptions about, and their experiences of, root canal treatment

“…Cost is an important factor in patients' treatment choices and it can create a barrier to receiving dental care (20). Other studies have also concluded that more than half of the respondents were willing to pay a greater amount in order to avoid tooth extraction (16,23). However, it is not known whether their concerns about costs were a general concern about the cost of treatment rather than a specific concern about the cost of treatment for that specific tooth.…”

Dental health-care service utilisation and its determinants in West Iran: a cross-sectional study

“…Knowledge on factors affecting dental health‐care utilisation is important to inform the health system and develop policies aimed at improving dental health‐care services, service utilisation and oral health status of people. However, several factors, including economic status, age, gender, educational level and individual's perspective on dental hygiene, affect dental health‐care. Generally, two categories of variables affect dental health‐care utilisation.…”