Pattern and factors associated with utilization of dental services among older adults in rural Victoria

Background In Australia, rural and regional areas have an increased proportion of older people who are ageing more rapidly than their metropolitan counterparts. This increase in the ageing population and its uneven geographic distribution is likely to pose an oral health challenge in the near future...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Australian dental journal 2014-12, Vol.59 (4), p.504-510
Main Authors: Mariño, RJ, Khan, AR, Tham, R, Khew, C‐W, Stevenson, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dental Care - economics
Dental Care - utilization
Dental Care for Aged
Dental services utilization
Dentistry
Female
Health Services Accessibility
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
older adults
Oral Health
Residence Characteristics
Rural Health
Rural Population
Victoria
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Summary:Background In Australia, rural and regional areas have an increased proportion of older people who are ageing more rapidly than their metropolitan counterparts. This increase in the ageing population and its uneven geographic distribution is likely to pose an oral health challenge in the near future. Methods A cross‐sectional study conducted in a sample of 226 community‐dwelling adults aged 55 years and older, living in the City of Greater Bendigo who completed a questionnaire and received an oral examination. Results Overall, 51.2% of participants reported having been to the dentist in the previous 12 months. Reported barriers to dental care were: cost of services (32.7%), fear of dentists (25.8%), length of waiting lists (18.1%) and availability of oral health care services (11.1%). Living alone, gender, low income, lack of education, low self‐perceived oral health needs, self‐perceived barriers, edentulism, and presence of mobility problems were statistically significant variables associated with less use of dental services (p 
ISSN:0045-0421
1834-7819
DOI:10.1111/adj.12216