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Objectives@#The purpose of this study was to analyze the risk factors for dental caries and severe periodontitis using the data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for improving the lifestyle risk assessment and oral health education in national adult dental examination program. @*Methods@#The participants included 7,301 adults aged 19-59 years for dental caries analysis and 4,886 adults aged 40-59 years for severe periodontitis analysis. Self-care of oral hygiene (brushing teeth frequency, brushing teeth before bed, use of interdental brush or floss), sugar intake, and smoking were selected as risk factors related to oral health. The other risk factors included sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, region, household income, education), dental care utilization (dental examination, unmet dental needs), and systematic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol). The association between the target diseases and risk factors was analyzed using a complex samples logistic regression model. @*Results@#Dental caries was negatively associated with brushing teeth frequency, interdental brushing or flossing, sugar intake, and age; and positively associated with smoking and oral examination. Severe periodontitis was positively associated with smoking, diabetes, age, and region (eup/myeon). Gender (male), household income (low), and unmet dental care (yes) were positively associated with dental caries or severe periodontitis. @*Conclusions@#It was possible to obtain evidence of lifestyle factors (self-care oral hygiene, sugar intake, smoking) affecting the target disease (dental caries or periodontal disease) for the national adult dental examination program. However, there were limitations in estimating causality as this was a cross-sectional study, and the explanatory power of the risk model was low. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct a cohort study of the adult dental examination program to obtain a higher level of evidence on the risk factors of the target diseases.
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Objectives@#The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the prevalence of dental caries and the risk factors using data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for improving the dental caries risk assessment model in child continuing care program from the registered dentists. @*Methods@#The oral examination integrated data of the 7th wave (2016-2018) were downloaded from KNHANES website. The subjects of analysis were children ages 1 to 5 years for the primary teeth caries and children ages 6 to 18 years for permanent teeth caries. Dental caries risk factors included socio-demographic status (age, gender, region, household income), oral health behaviors (brushing teeth frequency, brushing teeth before bed, daily intake of sugar), dental care utilization (dental examination, preventive dental care, unmet dental needs), and the prevalence of dental caries in the parents. Complex samples logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. @*Results@#While the dental caries of children and adolescents were associated with age and gender, it was not associated with region and household income. In addition, there was no association between brushing teeth and dental caries, but it was found between daily sugar intake and primary teeth caries. The association between unmet dental needs and dental caries was clear, and the primary teeth caries were associated with dental examination or preventive dental care. The prevalence of dental caries in the parents was associated with primary and permanent dental caries in their children, respectively. @*Conclusions@#Although the results of this study were obtained from the representative data in the national level, the evidence was limited because of cross-sectional study. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct follow-up studies, such as a cohort study or clinical trial for the development of dental caries assessment model that are evidence-based.
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Objectives@#The purpose of this study is to investigate the trend of dental caries inequalities according to the household income level of children and adolescents, using data from Wave 4 (2007-2009) to Wave 7 (2016-2018) of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). @*Methods@#The raw data were obtained from the website of KNHANES. The data by year within each wave were integrated and used for the analysis. In accordance with the guidebook for data users, the experience rate and prevalence rate of dental caries in primary and permanent teeth were estimated. Additionally, the absolute difference (AD) between the lowest and highest household income levels and the prevalence ratio (PR) by household income level were calculated. @*Results@#The AD in the experience rate of dental caries showed a tendency to marginally decrease in primary teeth and moderately increase in permanent teeth. The PR was not statistically significant (P＞0.05) in all waves. The AD in the prevalence rate of dental caries decreased by 5.4% and 8.2% in primary and permanent teeth, respectively. The PR in Wave 7 showed that all statistical significance disappeared (P＞0.05). @*Conclusions@#In Korean children and adolescents, dental caries inequalities by household income level showed a tendency to gradually decrease in primary or permanent teeth, and statistical significance was no longer confirmed.
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Objectives@#The purpose of this study is to analyze the trend of inequality in dental caries, deep periodontal pockets, and severe tooth loss according to the income level of adults using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). @*Methods@#The raw data from the 4th wave (2007-2009) to the 7th wave (2016-2018) were downloaded from the KNHANES website. The analytical subjects were 19 years of age or older who completed oral examinations and were classified differently according to the prevalence characteristics of each clinical indicator. The prevalence of permanent tooth caries (19 years +), deep periodontal pockets (30 years +), total tooth loss (50 years +), and 20 teeth and over (70 years +) were estimated according to the guidebook for data users. The absolute difference (AD) between the lowest and highest income levels and the prevalence ratio (PR) were calculated. All statistical analyses were performed with STATA version 13. @*Results@#The prevalence of permanent tooth caries decreased by 6.7%, but the AD increased by 3.4% and the PR was statistically significant. The prevalence of deep periodontal pockets was 6-10%, but the AD increased by 1.7%, and the PR of 7th wave rapidly increased. The prevalence of total tooth loss decreased by 1.5%, but in the 7th wave, the AD and the PR rapidly increased. The prevalence of 20 teeth and over increased by 10.9%, but the AD increased by ―4.3%, and the PR was statistically significant in the first and second quantiles of all waves. @*Conclusions@#In Korean adults, overall oral health status has improved over the past decade, but oral health inequality according to income level has generally worsened. Therefore, policy development including intervention in social determinants is needed to reduce the oral health inequality identified in this study.
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Objectives@#The aim of this study was to develop policy tasks and approaches for the integration of oral health care systems in South and North Korea on the basis of a literature research, and to verify their validity through a Delphi survey of an expert panel. @*Methods@#Twelve policy tasks and 11 approaches for South-North Korea integration were developed by a comparative model of oral health care systems. Two rounds of Delphi surveys were conducted via e-mail on May 20 and June 16, 2020, targeting 10 experts with experience in inter-Korean oral health care exchange and cooperation or related research. The mean, coefficient of variation (CV), and content validity ration (CVR) were calculated for each item. The validity of each item was judged based on the CVR. @*Results@#The five policy tasks that meet the consensus of experts are: the integration of dental college education, the integration of activity qualifications and supply/demand for general dentists, the integration of education and training for auxiliary dental personnel, the integration of activity qualifications and supply/demand for auxiliary dental personnel, and the integration of oral health care financing. The nine approaches of the consensus of experts are: sharing the philosophy, values, and strategies, guaranteeing geographic access for residents, standardized oral health care delivery, an integrated performance management system, an integrated computerized information system, an integrated governance structure, the installation and operation of an integrated organization, the re-education and re-qualification of active oral health care personnel, and integrated goals for oral health outcomes. @*Conclusions@#The expert panel showed a relatively high degree of agreement with policy tasks and approaches for the integration of the South-North Korea oral health care systems. It is necessary to develop more realistic contents based on more reliable North Korean data in the future.
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Objectives@#The purpose of this study is to investigate the financial and manpower indicators of the oral health care system in Korea and to compare them with six selected countries — the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and Sweden. @*Methods@#It used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics website and official data sources of the Korean government. @*Results@#In Korea, total oral health care expenditure (TOHCE) per capita was US $ 208, the TOHCE as a share of GDP was 0.5%, the TOHCE as a percentage of total health care spending (THCE) was 6.2%, and the percentage of out-of-pocket payments of TOHCE was 58.8% in 2019. The number of practising dentists per 1,000 population was 0.50 in 2018, and the average annual growth rate since 2000 was 3.3%. Dental specialists as a percentage of practising dentists increased from 0.4% in 2009 to 21.8% in 2020, and the allied dental personnel-to-dentist ratio in dental hospitals and clinics rose from 1.95 in 2013 to 2.34 in 2019. In addition, in 2019, the number of dentists and dental hygienists working in health care institutions or health centers differed distinctly by area;public health dentists accounted for 88% of dentists working at health centers and multiple general dentists were secured in five metropolitans/provinces. @*Conclusions@#In the 21st century, the financial and manpower indicators of oral health care in Korea rose significantly, comparable to the six selected countries, although quality limitations remain. In the future, it is expected that these policies in Korea will be enhanced based on the indicators identified in this study.
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Objectives@#Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) was suspended in Ansan city in 2018. The purpose of this study was to inspect the status of caries in the permanent teeth of adolescents and suggest the index as the baseline for cohort study in the CWF suspended area. @*Methods@#Oral examinations and questionnaire surveys were conducted on adolescents aged 12 years. Of 1,479 individuals, 890 (60.2%) consented to the examinations. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the status of permanent dental caries by demographic, sociological, and health behavioral characteristics. The study was conducted with approval from IRB Kyung Hee University. @*Results@#The findings reveal gaps in the prevalence of caries among the study sample according to demographic, sociological and health behavioral factors. Rates of untreated caries were higher among adolescents who stayed in the area for a lesser duration, had foreign parents, or had cariogenic drinks more often (p<0.05). @*Conclusions@#A gap in untreated caries was observed based on demographic, sociological, and health behavioral factors. The findings of the study suggest the need to monitor oral health following cessation of CWF, along with developing alternative programs in the near future.
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Objectives@#The purpose of this study is to investigate the financial and manpower indicators of the oral health care system in Korea and to compare them with six selected countries — the US, Japan, Germany, France, the UK, and Sweden. @*Methods@#It used the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) statistics website and official data sources of the Korean government. @*Results@#In Korea, total oral health care expenditure (TOHCE) per capita was US $ 208, the TOHCE as a share of GDP was 0.5%, the TOHCE as a percentage of total health care spending (THCE) was 6.2%, and the percentage of out-of-pocket payments of TOHCE was 58.8% in 2019. The number of practising dentists per 1,000 population was 0.50 in 2018, and the average annual growth rate since 2000 was 3.3%. Dental specialists as a percentage of practising dentists increased from 0.4% in 2009 to 21.8% in 2020, and the allied dental personnel-to-dentist ratio in dental hospitals and clinics rose from 1.95 in 2013 to 2.34 in 2019. In addition, in 2019, the number of dentists and dental hygienists working in health care institutions or health centers differed distinctly by area;public health dentists accounted for 88% of dentists working at health centers and multiple general dentists were secured in five metropolitans/provinces. @*Conclusions@#In the 21st century, the financial and manpower indicators of oral health care in Korea rose significantly, comparable to the six selected countries, although quality limitations remain. In the future, it is expected that these policies in Korea will be enhanced based on the indicators identified in this study.
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Objectives@#Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) was suspended in Ansan city in 2018. The purpose of this study was to inspect the status of caries in the permanent teeth of adolescents and suggest the index as the baseline for cohort study in the CWF suspended area. @*Methods@#Oral examinations and questionnaire surveys were conducted on adolescents aged 12 years. Of 1,479 individuals, 890 (60.2%) consented to the examinations. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the status of permanent dental caries by demographic, sociological, and health behavioral characteristics. The study was conducted with approval from IRB Kyung Hee University. @*Results@#The findings reveal gaps in the prevalence of caries among the study sample according to demographic, sociological and health behavioral factors. Rates of untreated caries were higher among adolescents who stayed in the area for a lesser duration, had foreign parents, or had cariogenic drinks more often (p<0.05). @*Conclusions@#A gap in untreated caries was observed based on demographic, sociological, and health behavioral factors. The findings of the study suggest the need to monitor oral health following cessation of CWF, along with developing alternative programs in the near future.
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OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the financial budget of fluoride application in the National Health Insurance.METHODS: The amount of fluoride application was calculated by using the sealant rate (utilization rate 1), dental examination rate (utilization rate 2), and the average rate of these two (utilization rate 3) in children and adolescents. For the next five years, 100% of the existing fees were applied to estimate the financial budget.RESULTS: The total budget for children and adolescents was estimated to be 22.0 billion won minimum and 83.5 billion won maximum in the first year, and 104.8 billion won minimum and 398.5 billion won maximum up to the next five years. Moreover, in high risk groups, the total budget was estimated to be 4.2 billion won minimum and 16.1 billion won maximum in the first year, and 18.6 billion won minimum and 70.8 billion won maximum up to the next five years.CONCLUSIONS: The financial budget of fluoride application coverage for children and adolescents was similar or lower than that of the current dental sealants. It needs to implement promptly with the reason of financial saving over the long-term point of view. Based on this evidence, it is affordable and necessary to begin to promote oral health for children and adolescents.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Humans , Budgets , Fees and Charges , Fluorides , Insurance, Health , National Health Programs , Oral Health , Pit and Fissure SealantsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Studies on oral health care in North Korea are being pursued in South Korea. However, the covertness of North Korea offers substantial resistance to the access of information from the country, including in the field of oral health care. In this study, we explored North Korea's oral health care policy and its status in the Kim Jong-Un Era.METHODS: We used existing information from Internet searches and also interviewed three health care professionals who had recently contact with North Korea.RESULTS: At present, there are four development policies of oral health care in North Korea: expansion of dental institutions and resource support, strengthening the prevention and treatment of dental diseases, improvement of dental prosthetics, and increasing the responsibility and role of the dental workforce. In addition, there has been an increasing interest in children's oral health with the development of a few programs.CONCLUSIONS: In order to improve overall oral health care, cooperation is required from North Korea in accessing relevant information in the field of children's oral health, dental prosthetics, and dental materials. For this to occur, there should be a preliminary trust building process between North Korea and South Korea as well as access to information from reliable sources.
Subject(s)
Access to Information , Delivery of Health Care , Democratic People's Republic of Korea , Dental Materials , Internet , Korea , Oral Health , Stomatognathic DiseasesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the financial budget of light-curing composite resin fillings based on the expanded coverage of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), called “Moon Care.” METHODS: The estimated population with dental caries and the amount of light-curing composite resins used were determined. The fees for the resin fillings per tooth were considered for the calculations. The expected budget for the next five years for children and adolescents aged 5–12 and 5–19 years were calculated. RESULTS: During the first year of the coverage, the budget for children and adolescents aged <19 years was estimated to be 201.8 billion South Korean won (5–9 years, 17.9 billion South Korean won; 10–14 years, 76.6 billion South Korean won; and 15–19 years, 107.3 billion South Korean won). The total budget for the next five years for children and adolescents aged <19 years was estimated at 946.4 billion South Korean won. Likewise, the budget for children aged <12 years during the first year of the coverage was estimated at 63.9 billion South Korean won (5–9 years, 17.9 billion South Korean won and 10–12 years, 46 billion South Korean won), and the total budget for the next five years was estimated at 315.9 billion South Korean won. CONCLUSIONS: Government healthcare plans should be established based on treatment needs and financial estimations. All the items in the NHIS, including the light-curing composite resin filling, should be considered based on their contribution to oral health promotion. Furthermore, in the long term, the coverage for preventive health services should be included in the health insurance.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Humans , Budgets , Composite Resins , Delivery of Health Care , Dental Caries , Fees and Charges , Insurance, Health , National Health Programs , Oral Health , Preventive Health Services , ToothABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in smoking and toothbrushing habits between vocational and general high school students, using data from the 10th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey. METHODS: This study performed a complex samples cross-tabulation analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify differences in smoking and brushing habits according to the school type on 35,904 students from 400 sample high schools. The final model of logistic regression analysis was adjusted for gender, grade, subjective socioeconomic status, paternal education, and maternal education. RESULTS: The risks of having experienced smoking and current smoking among vocational high school students were 2.3 times and 2.8 times higher compared with general high school students, respectively (P < 0.001). The risks of brushing teeth less than 3 times a day and not brushing teeth after lunch were 1.4 times and 2.0 times higher compared with general high school students, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the need for developing and implementing an oral health program that reflects the characteristics of vocational high schools to reduce the differences in smoking and toothbrushing habits between general and vocational high school students.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Education , Korea , Logistic Models , Lunch , Oral Health , Risk-Taking , Smoke , Smoking , Social Class , Tooth , ToothbrushingABSTRACT
The purpose of this study to review clinicians and educators on required communication education factors of dental hygienists using qualitative research by focus group interview. The participants were dentists, dental hygienists and professors. A questionnaire was developed on communication education to collect data. The collated data derived concepts related to communication education. After transferring the data, were analyzed by open coding and axial coding using computer-aided qualitative data analysis software. Focus group emphasized that higher education on communication should be preceded before they are put into the clinical field. However, the dental hygienist emphasized experiential education in the clinical field, the professor emphasized additional education for continuity of communication education even after graduation. Besides, focus group emphasized role play, and the professor required that the standardization of the dental communication training courses objectives and role play modules and the education environment infrastructure should be established to implement communication education efficiently. The categories of communication education stated in the focus group were time and method for the dental communication training courses, dental communication training courses standardization and educational environment, of evaluation of communication competency, of perception of the dental communication training courses. This study identified the communication education development to conform with the needs of the clinical field strengthen and cultivate communication competency dental hygienists based on factors of communication education emphasized in focus groups.
Subject(s)
Humans , Clinical Coding , Dental Hygienists , Dentists , Education , Focus Groups , Methods , Qualitative Research , Statistics as TopicABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the relationship between pit and fissure sealant (PFS) experience and the socio-economic factors of adolescents before and after coverage by National Health Insurance (NHI). METHODS: Our sources were the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Surveys from 2008 and 2014. The variables used were PFS experience, demographic factors, socio-economic factors, and oral health-related behaviors. RESULTS: PFS experience was higher in 2014 than in 2008. The relationship between PFS experience and socio-economic factors was significant in both 2008 and 2014. Although the inequity of PFS experience among adolescents was reduced as PFS was included in NHI coverage, a disparity still exists. CONCLUSIONS: Even after NHI coverage included PFS, the policies to reduce the inequity of PFS experiences among adolescents should be further devised. In addition, a longitudinal study is recommended to determine the relationship between PFS experience and various socio-economic or behavioral factors.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Humans , Demography , Korea , Longitudinal Studies , National Health Programs , Risk-TakingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Since 2000, the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom (UK) has challenged for a large-scale reforms. This study aims to review those reforms to reflect in the dental care system in Korea. METHODS: Reports and papers that were published from 2000 to 2015 and were related to the NHS dental care system and reforms were searched. Among them, official reports from the government or organization were prioritized. RESULTS: In 2002, the “NHS Dentistry: Options for Change” report suggested rebuilding the structure to meet the standard of care, improving the remuneration system, and modernizing the workforce. Eight years later, the government proposed the “NHS Dental Contract: Proposals for Pilots” to improve accessibility to oral health and dental care. The pilot was based on three elements: registration, capitation, and quality. In 2015, the Department of Health announced the “Dental Contract Reform: Prototypes.” These prototypes include the clinical pathway, measurement and remuneration by quality of care, and a weighted capitation and quality model reimbursement system. CONCLUSIONS: The changes to the UK dental care system has implications. First, national coverage should be extended to improve accessibility to dental care. Second, the dental care system is necessary to reform focused on patient-centered and prevention. Third, registration and remuneration by quality of care needs to be introduced. Fourth, change should start from the basic steps, such as forming consensus or preparing manuals, to strengthening personnel and conducting a pilot study. Most of all, the new system will center on clinical leadership.
Subject(s)
Consensus , Critical Pathways , Delivery of Health Care , Dental Care , Dentistry , United Kingdom , Health Care Reform , Health Workforce , History of Dentistry , Korea , Leadership , Legislation, Dental , National Health Programs , Oral Health , Pilot Projects , Remuneration , Standard of CareABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the oral health literacy level of mothers in multi-cultural families and promote their oral health. METHODS: Participants were 46 mothers belonging to multi-cultural families who participated in the Oral health promotion program for multi-cultural families in Gangneung. For measurement of oral health literacy, 30 subjects were analyzed. Six pre-trained investigators conducted an interview with the mothers. Thirty-six mothers belonging to general families in Gangneung were included, and 30 subjects were analyzed. The Oral Health Literacy Instrument for Korean Children's Caregiver was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean oral health literacy score for mothers from multi-cultural families was 10.83 out of 22.0, which was lower than the score for mothers from general families (P<0.05). The percentage of mothers from multi-cultural families whose oral health literacy was inadequate was 63.3%. Oral health literacy scores were significantly different by Korean fluency level (P<0.05). The correlation between Korean communication level and reading comprehension score was significant (P<0.01). The correlation between Korean communication level and total oral health literacy score was also significant (P<0.05). Finally, there was a significant correlation between oral health knowledge and reading comprehension (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The oral health literacy score for mothers from multi-cultural families was lower than that for mother belonging to general families, and 63.3% had inadequate knowledge. Oral health professionals should use easy terms and consider the Korean communication capacity of mothers in their professional service.
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Humans , Caregivers , Comprehension , Literacy , Mothers , Oral Health , Research PersonnelABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to review changes in the amount of pit and fissure sealant (PFS) provided after the inclusion of PFS in treatments covered by the National Health Insurance (NHI) and to assess differences in the supplied amount between geographical areas where accessibility to dental care differs. METHODS: The years for comparison were selected based on data availability and the time of inclusion of PFS into NHI coverage. The selected pre-inclusion year was 2008, and the post-inclusion year was 2012. Data regarding the amount of PFS supplied were collected from the oral health program, NHI, and Medical care. To dichotomize areas by high and low dental care accessibility, we standardized the population size, number of dental institutions, and number of dentists in each group. RESULTS: We considered metropolitan areas and Gyeonggi Province as high dental care accessibility areas, while other provinces were considered as low dental care accessibility areas. Regardless of the transforming constant, the amount of PFS supplied increased in high dental care accessibility areas and decreased in low dental care accessibility areas after inclusion of PFS in NHI. CONCLUSIONS: To increase the amount of PFS provided in low dental care accessibility areas, promotion of PFS should be strengthened and support from oral health programs should be increased. Additionally, waiving out-of-pocket money for PFS in NHI should be considered to remove barriers of supply.
Subject(s)
Humans , Dental Care , Dentists , Korea , National Health Programs , Oral Health , Pit and Fissure Sealants , Population DensityABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the trends and progress in oral health status, dental service items, and fees among children receiving community-based registered dental care over a three-year period. METHODS: The study subjects were selected from nine community children centers in J district of S city, in the Korean province of Gyeonggi-do. The sample included 222 children who had received care in 2011 and 2012, and 205 children, in 2013. The dependent variables were oral health status (df index and decayed-missing-filled teeth index), dental service items (total number of visits and dental fillings by type), and dental fees (total fees, National Health Insurance [NHI] coverage, and NHI non-coverage), analyzed by year. The percentages of dental caries and dental service items were tested using chi-square analysis, and the mean of each variable, including dental fees, was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis method, owing to non-parametric distribution. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant decrease in the rate of dental clinic visits for treatment, and an increase in the mean numbers of filled teeth and sealants performed per year. The rate and number of dental fillings increased steadily, whereas the services for oral health promotion and prevention were decreased. The number of dental visits and the total fees decreased steeply, especially within the second half of the last measured year: around 90,000 earned within that time, compared to 170,000 earned during the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Dental clinic visits should be encouraged on a regular basis for oral health promotion and prevention by both patients and providers using capitation payment systems, for example. It is necessary to monitor and provide training for all related staff by developing a manual for oral health examination and treatment, adjusted for the registered dental system. Policy measures addressing the needs of vulnerable social groups are needed more than ever. Therefore, it is important to provide as much targeted support and training to the registered dental system as possible.
Subject(s)
Child , Humans , Child Health Services , Dental Care , Dental Caries , Dental Clinics , Dentists , Fees and Charges , Fees, Dental , Insurance, Dental , National Health Programs , Oral Health , ToothABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean dentists' perceived experience with and contents of education on National Health Insurance, and their competence in the practice of cases involving a health insurance claim. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 600 dentists who secured their dentist license during 2000-2004. A systemic stratified sampling, with "school graduated from" as a stratum, was conducted on a population of 3,947 dentists, using the register of the Korean Dental Association. A survey request and questionnaire sample was mailed, and responses were collected using a web-based replying method. The impact of the experience of education related to health insurance on the frequency of, and perceived competence on health insurance claims was analyzed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: Only 21% dentists replied that they had educational experiences related to health insurance when they were dental students, and the content of this education was 'health insurance system' (69%) and 'health insurance law' (59%). Only 28% of the respondents replied that they had practiced cases related to health insurance claims at dental schools. The rate of dentists who had educational experiences related to health insurance after their graduation was 73%. The experience of education related to health insurance and the perceived competency on handling health insurance claims showed a statistically significant correlation (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to develop a standardized curriculum related to health insurance and health insurance claims in dental schools.