Multilevel Analysis of the Association of Dental-Hygienist-Related Factors on Regular Dental Check-Up Behavior

Yuko Inoue, Yoshihiro Shimazaki, Akiko Oshiro, Takashi Zaitsu, Michiko Furuta, Yuichi Ando, Hideo Miyazaki, Masaki Kambara, Kakuhiro Fukai and Jun Aida
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Yuko Inoue: Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
Yoshihiro Shimazaki: Department of Preventive Dentistry and Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Aichi Gakuin University, Aichi 464-8650, Japan
Akiko Oshiro: Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
Takashi Zaitsu: Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
Michiko Furuta: 8020 Promotion Foundation, Tokyo 102-0073, Japan
Yuichi Ando: 8020 Promotion Foundation, Tokyo 102-0073, Japan
Hideo Miyazaki: 8020 Promotion Foundation, Tokyo 102-0073, Japan
Masaki Kambara: 8020 Promotion Foundation, Tokyo 102-0073, Japan
Kakuhiro Fukai: 8020 Promotion Foundation, Tokyo 102-0073, Japan
Jun Aida: Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: Few studies have examined the factors related to dental clinics during dental check-ups. We examined the association between dental-hygienist-related factors and patients’ regular dental check-ups. This nationwide cross-sectional study was based on a survey conducted in Japan in 2014. The analyzed population included 12,139 patients from 1181 dental clinics. We used three-level Poisson regression analysis, considering patient?clinic?prefecture, to examine the association of dental-hygienist-related factors with dental check-up behavior. Patients attending treatment and regular check-ups constituted 63.0% and 37.0%, respectively. The adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) for patients undergoing regular dental check-ups at dental clinics with dedicated dental hygienists’ units, spending ?20 min in patient education (compared to 0 min), and with three or more dental hygienists (compared to 0 hygienists) available were 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06–1.30), 1.25 (95%CI: 1.07–1.46), and 2.05 (95%CI: 1.64–2.56), respectively. The median PR indicates that when a patient randomly moves to another dental clinic with more regular dental check-ups, this prevalence increased 1.69 times. These results suggest that dental check-up behavior is determined not only by individual factors but also dental-clinic-level factors. Improving the dental-hygienist-related factors is necessary to encourage people to visit dentists for regular check-ups.

Keywords: dental clinic; dental hygienist; dental visit; oral health; regular dental check-ups (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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