Self-Initiated Reasons For Utilizing Dental Services By Thai Adult and Elderly Patients Attending A Rural Public Hospital

Abstract

A retrospective study of 791 patients’ self-initiated reasons for dental service utilization at a district hospital in Southern Thailand was undertaken to identify an association between independent variables (age, gender, and dental insurance status) and a dependent variable (reasons for utilizing dental services). Data were collected from patient general records and joint dental treatment records. Descriptive statistics were used for general description. Chi-square test of the association was used. Logistic regression analysis was also undertaken to identify factors independently associated with the dependent variable. This study revealed that 96.3 percent of patients expressed curative reasons for utilizing dental services. Only 3.7 percent of patients expressed preventive reasons. Chi-square test and logistic regression analysis revealed similarly that age and dental insurance status were associated with reasons for utilizing dental services. Elderly patients, aged 61 years old and over, were more likely to express preventive reasons for utilizing dental services than adult patients, aged 20 to 60 years old (p=0.042). Patients who were not insured by Universal Coverage Scheme were more likely to express preventive reasons for utilizing dental service than those insured by Universal Coverage Scheme (p=0.005). Nevertheless, very low percentage of patients expressing preventive reasons for utilizing dental services must be noted.