Disparities in dental insurance coverage among hospitalised Western Australian children

Alsharif, Alla; Kruger, Estie; Tennant, Marc

doi:10.1111/idj.12116

Cited by 16 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Advances and improvement in oral health have been experienced disproportionately by those with higher socio‐economic status, and there has been increased polarization of dental caries within the community . Dental caries remain one of the leading causes of hospitalization among children in WA …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Potentially preventable hospital separations related to oral health: a 10‐year analysis

Kruger

Tennant

2015

Australian Dental Journal

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Background: The aims of this study were to assess the rates of hospitalizations for potentially preventable dental conditions over a 10-year period in Western Australia; to analyse trends over 10 years in rate changes of hopitalizations; and to analyse the mix of preventable dental conditions by age group and Aboriginal status. Methods: The principal diagnosis, as classified by the International Classification of Disease (ICD-10AM), was used to select hospitalization data for all patients who were discharged from hospital in Western Australia for the financial years 1999-2000 to 2008-2009, for a potentially preventable oral health condition. Results: Over a 10-year period more than 65 000 people were hospitalized. Population rates of hospitalization increased significantly over the period for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population groups. Admission rates were higher for Aboriginal people. Children under 14 were more likely to be admitted; the most common condition that required hospitalization was dental caries, and the highest rates of hospitalization were for those from the most socio-economically disadvantaged areas. Conclusions: These hospitalizations remain a considerable and increasing financial burden on health budgets. An increase in efforts is necessary to curb escalating government health expenditure by reducing avoidable and preventable oral health related hospitalizations.Keywords: Australia, dental, hospitalizations, oral health, preventable.Abbreviations and acronyms: AIHW = Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; AR-DRG = Australian refined standard diagnostic related group; ARIA = Accessibility and Remoteness Index of Australia; HMDS = hospital morbidity data system; SEIFA = Socio-economic Index for Areas.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rates of oral disease are high among these populations and access to treatment is often difficult. Hospitalization for conditions related to oral health are prevalent, and placing considerable burdens on health system budgets . Among preschool children, hospitalization for dental caries was one of the leading causes of hospitalization …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentially preventable hospital separations related to oral health: a 10‐year analysis

Kruger

Tennant

2015

Australian Dental Journal

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“…A strength of having a widely used statistical index for local area resources in Australia allows for easy investigation of this influence on oral health. Previous research has found, children residing in low SEIFA areas are associated with poorer indicators of oral health (ie, caries) and other risk factors or influences (ie, oral hygiene behaviours and dental service use) . Future studies should consider using more direct measures of social capital such as social capital scales …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research has found, children residing in low SEIFA areas are associated with poorer indicators of oral health (ie, caries) and other risk factors or influences (ie, oral hygiene behaviours and dental service use). [42][43][44][45] Future studies should consider using more direct measures of social capital such as social capital scales. 46…”

Section: Community Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Children's oral health in Australia: The past decade's research agenda

Stormon

Kazantzis

Ford

et al. 2018

Comm Dent Oral Epid

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Objectives Research into dental diseases in children is no longer primarily focussed on biological and dietary factors, with social determinants an important influence. The aim of this study was to systematically review the focus of research on influences on children's oral health in Australia. Methods Relevant databases were searched for English language publications between 2008 and 2017. Included studies were original research articles with a focus on influences of oral health for Australian children. A thematic synthesis approach was adopted, and included studies were coded using the Fisher‐Owens et al (2007) framework which included child‐, family‐ and community level influences. Results A total of 252 studies were included in this review. The focus of the included studies was most frequently on child level influences (n = 200, 79.4%), followed by community level (n = 175, 69.4%) and family (n = 86, 38.1%)‐level influences. Overall, the highest proportion of included studies were on the child level influences of physical attributes (n = 86, 34.1%) and child maturing (n = 83, 32.9%). The influences with the least number of studies were social environment (n = 2, 0.8%), social support (n = 3, 1.2%) and physical safety on both a family and community levels (n = 3, 1.2% and n = 1, 0.4%, respectively). Discussion Monitoring child level influences of oral health has consistently occurred in national surveys and epidemiological studies. Family level influences are comparatively underinvestigated and should be a focus of future research in Australia. This study has helped to identify area gaps in the literature and can guide future studies.

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“…People on lower incomes are less likely to use allied health services (Korda et al 2009). In relation to dental care, research shows inequalities in oral health (Mejia et al 2014), inequities in dental insurance associated with inequities in care (Alsharif et al 2014), and cost as a barrier for lower-income people to access care (Chrisopoulos et al 2013).…”

Section: Other Forms Of Phcmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are changes in Australian national primary healthcare policy likely to promote or impede equity of access? A narrative review

Fisher

Baum

Kay

et al. 2017

Aust. J. Prim. Health

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Significant changes have occurred in Australia's national primary healthcare (PHC) policy over the last decade, but little assessment has been made of implications for equity. This research aimed to identify key recent changes in national PHC policy and assess implications for equity of access to PHC. Academic literature was reviewed to identify issues affecting equity of access in national PHC policy, and grey literature was also reviewed to identify significant policy changes during 2005-16 with implications for equitable access. Equity implications of four areas of policy change, set against the existing Medicare system, were assessed. It was found that Medicare supports equitable access to general practice, but there is a risk of reduced equity under current policy settings. Four changes in PHC policy were selected as having particular implications for equity of access and these were assessed as follows: increased involvement of private health insurance presents risks for equity; equity implications of new models of coordinated care are unclear; and regional primary health organisations and current policy on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health have potential equity benefits, but these will depend on further implementation.

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Disparities in dental insurance coverage among hospitalised Western Australian children

Abstract: Better understanding of disparities in access to care among children, socioeconomic divide in oral health insurance coverage and subsequent development of intervention programmes, will be critical to improving Australian children's oral health.

Cited by 16 publications

References 5 publications

Potentially preventable hospital separations related to oral health: a 10‐year analysis

Potentially preventable hospital separations related to oral health: a 10‐year analysis

Children's oral health in Australia: The past decade's research agenda

Are changes in Australian national primary healthcare policy likely to promote or impede equity of access? A narrative review

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