Neighborhood Deprivation and Unmet Health Care Needs: A Multilevel Analysis of Older Individuals in South Korea

OBJECTIVES: In this study the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and the unmet health care needs of elderly individuals (≥ 65 years) was examined. Some previous studies suggested that neighborhood characteristics affect access to health care, yet research on the unmet needs of older individuals is limited. METHODS: Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relationship of neighborhood-level factors with unmet health care needs due to costs, adjusting for individual-level factors, in individuals ≥ 65 years in the 2017 Korean Community Health Survey (n = 63,388). RESULTS: There were 2.6% of elderly individuals who experienced unmet health care needs due to costs. Following adjustment for individual and neighborhood characteristics, the neighborhood deprivation in urban areas was found to have an inverse association with unmet needs (odds ratio = 0.50; 95% confidence interval = 0.24–1.06) for the most deprived quartile versus the least deprived quartile). However, in rural areas neighborhood deprivation was not a significant variable. Among the individual-level variables, household income was one of the strongest correlates with unmet needs in both urban and rural areas. CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that targeted policy interventions reflecting both neighborhood and individual characteristics, should be implemented to reduce the unmet health care needs of elderly individuals.

Income Differences in Smoking Prevalences in 245 Districts of South Korea: Patterns by Area Deprivation and Urbanity, 2008-2014 / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure income differences in smoking prevalence at the district level and to investigate correlations among area deprivation, smoking prevalence, and income differences in smoking prevalence, stratified by urbanity. METHODS: Data were pooled from the Community Health Survey data of South Korea between 2008 and 2014. The age-standardized prevalence of smoking and its interquintile income differences were calculated. We conducted correlation analyses to investigate the association of the deprivation index with smoking prevalence and interquintile differences in smoking prevalence. RESULTS: Across 245 districts, the median prevalence of smoking in men was 45.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.4 to 48.5%), with an interquartile range (IQR) of 4.6% points. In women, the median prevalence was 3.0% (95% CI, 2.4 to 3.6%) and IQR was 1.6% points. The median interquintile difference in smoking prevalence was 7.4% points (95% CI, 1.6 to 13.2% points) in men and 2.7% points (95% CI, 0.5 to 4.9% points) in women. The correlation coefficients for the association between the deprivation index and smoking prevalence was 0.58, 0.15, -0.22 in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas, respectively, among men, and 0.54, -0.33, -0.43 among women. No meaningful correlation was found between area deprivation and interquintile difference in smoking prevalence. The correlation between smoking prevalence and interquintile difference in smoking prevalence was more evident in women than in men. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of geographical variations in smoking prevalence and interquintile difference in smoking prevalence. Neither smoking prevalence nor the deprivation index was closely correlated with interquintile income difference in smoking prevalence. Measuring inequalities in smoking prevalence is crucial to developing policies aimed at reducing inequalities in smoking.

The Factors Influencing Neurological Outcome of Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest with Cardiac Etiology

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors associated with neurological outcome and to provide ideas for improving the operation of the emergency medical system in Korea. METHODS: A total of 95,911 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) with cardiac etiology who were transported by 119 EMS ambulances for seven years from 2006 to 2012 in Korea were analyzed. According to these data there is a multilevel structure, so that patient's neurological outcome in the same region is not independent but interrelated, therefore two-level (patient-region) logistic regression analysis was applied to adjust this correlation. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratio (OR) in the group in which Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) was performed by a bystander was 1.27 for good neurological outcome. The adjusted OR in the group with implementation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) before arrival at the hospital was 4.11 for good neurological outcome. The adjusted OR in the numbers of emergency physicians compared with <3 was 2.76 (3-4), 4.24 (≥5) and the adjusted OR in OHCAs volume of each hospital compared with <50 was 2.31 (50-64), 2.51 (65-102), and 2.94 (≥103). The adjusted OR in deprivation level compared with <2 was 0.72 (≥2). CONCLUSION: The neurological outcome was significantly better in the group in which CPR was performed by a bystander and AED was applied early. The neurological outcome tended to be significantly better in hospitals with higher numbers of emergency physicians and higher volume of OHCAs, in less deprived districts.

The Association Among Individual and Contextual Factors and Unmet Healthcare Needs in South Korea: A Multilevel Study Using National Data / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to investigate associations between contextual characteristics and unmet healthcare needs in South Korea after accounting for individual factors. METHODS: The present study used data from the 2012 Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS) of 228 902 adults residing within 253 municipal districts in South Korea. A multilevel analysis was conducted to investigate how contextual characteristics, defined by variables that describe the regional deprivation, degree of urbanity, and healthcare supply, are associated with unmet needs after controlling for individual-level variables. RESULTS: Of the surveyed Korean adults, 12.1% reported experiencing unmet healthcare needs in the past. This figure varied with the 253 districts surveyed, ranging from 2.6% to 26.2%. A multilevel analysis found that the association between contextual characteristics and unmet needs varied according to the factors that caused the unmet needs. The degree of urbanity was associated with unmet need due to "financial burden" (odds ratio [OR], 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.42 to 0.66 for rural vs. metropolitan), but not unmet need due to "service not available when needed." There were no significant associations between these unmet need measures and regional deprivation. Among individual-level variables, income level showed the highest association with unmet need due to "financial burden" (OR, 5.63; 95% CI, 4.76 to 6.66), while employment status showed a strong association with unmet need due to "service not available when needed." CONCLUSIONS: Our finding suggests that different policy interventions should be considered for each at-risk population group to address the root cause of unmet healthcare needs.

The Incidence of Stroke by Socioeconomic Status, Age, Sex, and Stroke Subtype: A Nationwide Study in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To date, studies have not comprehensively demonstrated the relationship between stroke incidence and socioeconomic status. This study investigated stroke incidence by household income level in conjunction with age, sex, and stroke subtype in Korea. METHODS: Contributions by the head of household were used as the basis for income levels. Household income levels for 21 766 036 people were classified into 6 groups. The stroke incidences were calculated by household income level, both overall within income categories and further by age group, sex, and stroke subtype. To present the inequalities among the six ranked groups in a single value, the slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality were calculated. RESULTS: In 2005, 57 690 people were first-time stroke patients. The incidences of total stroke for males and females increased as the income level decreased. The incidences of stroke increased as the income level decreased in those 74 years old and under, whereas there was no difference by income levels in those 75 and over. Intracerebral hemorrhage for the males represented the highest inequality among stroke subtypes. Incidences of subarachnoid hemorrhage did not differ by income levels. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of stroke increases as the income level decreases, but it differs according to sex, age, and stroke subtype. The difference in the relative incidence is large for male intracerebral hemorrhage, whereas the difference in the absolute incidence is large for male ischemic stroke.

Influence of the Nursing Practice Environment on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the nursing practice environment at the hospital-level affects the job satisfaction and turnover intention of hospital nurses. METHODS: Among the 11 731 nurses who participated in the Korea Health and Medical Workers' Union's educational program, 5654 responded to our survey. Data from 3096 nurses working in 185 general inpatient wards at 60 hospitals were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Having a standardized nursing process (odds ratio [OR], 4.21; p<0.001), adequate nurse staffing (OR, 4.21; p<0.01), and good doctor-nurse relationship (OR, 4.15; p<0.01), which are hospital-level variables based on the Korean General Inpatients Unit Nursing Work Index (KGU-NWI), were significantly related to nurses' job satisfaction. However, no hospital-level variable from the KGU-NWI was significantly related to nurses' turnover intention. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable nursing practice environments are associated with job satisfaction among nurses. In particular, having a standardized nursing process, adequate nurse staffing, and good doctor-nurse relationship were found to positively influence nurses' job satisfaction. However, the nursing practice environment was not related to nurses' turnover intention.

Influence of the Nursing Practice Environment on Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the nursing practice environment at the hospital-level affects the job satisfaction and turnover intention of hospital nurses. METHODS: Among the 11 731 nurses who participated in the Korea Health and Medical Workers' Union's educational program, 5654 responded to our survey. Data from 3096 nurses working in 185 general inpatient wards at 60 hospitals were analyzed using multilevel logistic regression modeling. RESULTS: Having a standardized nursing process (odds ratio [OR], 4.21; p<0.001), adequate nurse staffing (OR, 4.21; p<0.01), and good doctor-nurse relationship (OR, 4.15; p<0.01), which are hospital-level variables based on the Korean General Inpatients Unit Nursing Work Index (KGU-NWI), were significantly related to nurses' job satisfaction. However, no hospital-level variable from the KGU-NWI was significantly related to nurses' turnover intention. CONCLUSIONS: Favorable nursing practice environments are associated with job satisfaction among nurses. In particular, having a standardized nursing process, adequate nurse staffing, and good doctor-nurse relationship were found to positively influence nurses' job satisfaction. However, the nursing practice environment was not related to nurses' turnover intention.

Global trends in health equity policy: lessons from experiences in the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the World Health Organization

Health equity is not just concerned with health care; rather, it is an issue of fairness and social justice. Equity-oriented health policies have increasingly been recognized as important public health issues for the last decades. This study investigates the blueprints for health equity policy that have been made in several developed countries or international organizations. From the late 1990s, national committees in the UK, the Netherlands, and Sweden have proposed comprehensive policies to strengthen health equity. In addition, the World Health Organization and its European regional office have developed policies for their member countries. Several lessons can be drawn from a review of the major blueprints: 1) setting attainable and quantitative targets, 2) action across all the social determinants of health, not just health care services, 3) giving the best start in early life for all children, 4) building equity-oriented universal health care systems, 5) political commitment, 6) participation and democratic decision making at the local level, and 7) monitoring and evaluation of health inequalities and their determinants.

Reconstruction of Various Perinasal Defects Using Facial Artery Perforator-Based Nasolabial Island Flaps

BACKGROUND: Classical flaps for perinasal defect reconstruction, such as forehead or nasolabial flaps, have some disadvantages involving limitations of the arc of rotation and two stages of surgery. However, a perforator-based flap is more versatile and allows freedom in flap design. We introduced our experience with reconstruction using a facial artery perforator-based propeller flap on the perinasal area. We describe the surgical differences between different defect subtypes. METHODS: Between December 2005 and August 2013, 10 patients underwent perinasal reconstruction in which a facial artery perforator-based flap was used. We divided the perinasal defects into types A and B, according to location. The operative results, including flap size, arc of rotation, complications, and characteristics of the perforator were evaluated by retrospective chart review and photographic evaluation. RESULTS: Eight patients were male and 2 patients were female. Their mean age was 61 years (range, 35-75 years). The size of the flap ranged from 1 cmx1.5 cm to 3 cmx6 cm. Eight patients healed uneventfully, but 2 patients presented with mild flap congestion. However, these 2 patients healed by conservative management without any additional surgery. All of the flaps survived completely with aesthetically pleasing results. CONCLUSIONS: The facial artery perforator-based flap allowed for versatile customized flaps, and the donor site scar was concealed using the natural nasolabial fold.

Suicide Rate Differences by Sex, Age, and Urbanicity, and Related Regional Factors in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Identify the characteristics related to the suicide rates in rural and urban areas of Korea and discover the factors that influence the suicide rate of the rural and urban areas. METHODS: Using the data on causes of death from 2006 to 2008, the suicide rates were calculated and compared after age-standardization based on gender, age group and urbanicity. And, in order to understand the factors that influence suicide rate, total 10 local characteristics in four domains - public service, social integration, residential environment, and economic status - were selected for multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The suicide rates were higher in men than women, in rural areas than urban, and in older people than the younger. Generally, although there were variations according to age group and urbanicity, suicide rates were significantly related to residential environment and regional economic status but not related to regional welfare spending and social integration. In addition, the population over the age of 65 years, only regional economic status has significantly influence on their suicide rates. CONCLUSIONS: The influence of characteristics of regions on suicide rate is various by age-group, gender, and urbanicity. Therefore, in order to lower suicide rate and reduce the gap between regions, various approaches must be adopted by taking into account the socioeconomic characteristics of the regions.

Corrigendum: Suicide Rate Differences by Sex, Age, and Urbanicity, and Related Regional Factors in Korea / 예방의학회지

The funding acknowledgment in this article was omitted as published.

Robot-Assisted Transoral Odontoidectomy : Experiment in New Minimally Invasive Technology, a Cadaveric Study

OBJECTIVE: In the field of spinal surgery, a few laboratory results or clinical cases about robotic spinal surgery have been reported. In vivo trials and development of related surgical instruments for spinal surgery are required before its clinical application. We investigated the use of the da Vinci(R) Surgical System in spinal surgery at the craniovertebral junction in a human cadaver to demonstrate the efficacy and pitfalls of robotic surgery. METHODS: Dissection of pharyngeal wall to the exposure of C1 and odontoid process was performed with full robotic procedure. Although assistance of another surgeon was necessary for drilling and removal of odontoid process due to the lack of appropriate end-effectors, successful robotic procedures for dural sutures and exposing spinal cord proved its safety and dexterity. RESULTS: Robot-assisted odontoidectomy was successfully performed in a human cadaver using the da Vinci(R) Surgical System with few robotic arm collisions and minimal soft tissue damages. Da Vinci(R) Surgical System manifested more dexterous movement than human hands in the deep and narrow oral cavity. Furthermore, sutures with robotic procedure in the oral cavity demonstrated the advantage over conventional procedure. CONCLUSION: Presenting cadaveric study proved the probability of robot-assisted transoral approach. However, the development of robotic instruments specific to spinal surgery must first precede its clinical application.

Deprivation and Mortality at the Town Level in Busan, Korea: An Ecological Study / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: Busan is reported to have the highest mortality rate among 16 provinces in Korea, as well as considerable health inequality across its districts. This study sought to examine overall and cause-specific mortality and deprivation at the town level in Busan, thereby identifying towns and causes of deaths to be targeted for improving overall health and alleviating health inequality. METHODS: Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for all-cause and four specific leading causes of death were calculated at the town level in Busan for the years 2005 through 2008. To construct a deprivation index, principal components and factor analysis were adopted, using 10% sample data from the 2005 census. Geographic information system (GIS) mapping techniques were applied to compare spatial distributions between the deprivation index and SMRs. We fitted the Gaussian conditional autoregressive model (CAR) to estimate the relative risks of mortality by deprivation level, controlling for both the heterogeneity effect and spatial autocorrelation. RESULTS: The SMRs of towns in Busan averaged 100.3, ranging from 70.7 to 139.8. In old inner cities and towns reclaimed for replaced households, the deprivation index and SMRs were relatively high. CAR modeling showed that gaps in SMRs for heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and physical injury were particularly high. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that more deprived towns are likely to have higher mortality, in particular from cardiovascular disease and physical injury. To improve overall health status and address health inequality, such deprived towns should be targeted.

The Relationship between Trust in Healthcare System and Health Examination Participation / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between vertical trust in the healthcare system and participation in routine health examinations. METHODS: Data from the 2008 Pusan Health Survey were analyzed for this study. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the influence of possible confounders (sex, age, education, monthly mean household income, horizontal trust) on participation in routine health examinations according to trust in the healthcare system. RESULTS: In a total sample of 7,683 participants, 3,756 (48.9%) were classified as health examination participants. Respondents with high trust in the healthcare system had significantly higher odds ratios of participation, 1.17 (95% CI 1.03-1.33), after multiple adjustments. CONCLUSION: Vertical trust in the healthcare system was significantly associated with higher odds of participation in routine health examinations. Improvements to the healthcare system have potential for increasing participation in routine health examinations.

Comparisons of Health Inequalities in Small Areas with Using the Standardized Mortality Ratios in Korea / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to compare the standardized mortality ratios among different small areas and to explore the usefulness of standardized mortality ratios in South Korea. METHODS: To calculate the standardized mortality ratio (SMR), we obtained the national deaths certificate data (2004-2006) and national registration population data (2003-2006), and these were provided by the National Statistical Office. The small areas (Eup.Myoun.Dong) were based on the subdivisions of counties. Among the 3,580 small areas classified by the National Statistical Office, 3,571 areas were included in this study. The basic statistics and decile distributions of the SMRs for all the regional levels were calculated, and the small area maps were also produced for some selected regions. To evaluate the precision of SMR, we calculated the 95% confidence intervals of the SMR in selected small areas. RESULTS: The mean and the standard deviation of the SMRs among all small areas were 100.8 and 17.0, respectively. The range was 30.6-211.7 and the inter-quartile range was 20.7. Seoul metropolitan city displayed the lowest mean SMR among 16 regions in South Korea, and 34.6 percent of the small area SMRs belonged to the first decile(the lowest group). On the contrary, the mean SMR of Gyeongsangnam province was highest, and 26.1 percent of the small area SMRs belonged to the tenth decile(the highest group). In some areas, the precision of the SMR, which was calculated by the 95% confidence intervals, remained questionable, yet it was quite stable for almost areas. CONCLUSIONS: The standardized mortality ratios can be useful for allocating health resources at the small area level in Korea.

The frontal characteristics of esthetic lips and lips after anterior segmental osteotomy in Korean females / 대한치과교정학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine firstly the characteristics of esthetic lips in Korean females and secondly to measure the changes of the lips before and after anterior segmental osteotomy in bimaxillary protruded patients. METHODS: Samples consisted of 30 models and 26 nonmodels, and 10 patients who had received anterior segmental osteotomy. Twelve linear measurements, 5 angular measurements, and the lip perimeter and area were measured. These results were compared for each group using unpaired and paired t-tests. RESULTS: Full face width, nose to chin, upper vermilion height and angle, lateral heights at the point of the tips of Cupid's bow, central bow angle, and the lower lip to chin lengths were significantly greater in nonmodels than in models. However, overall lip width, lower vermilion height and angle, tip-to-tip of Cupid's bow lip perimeter, and lower vermilion area were greater in models than in nonmodels. Comparison of before and after anterior segmental osteotomy revealed that the values for the upper vermilion and lateral heights, the angle to Cupid's bow tip lengths, and upper vermilion area of post-operative patients had become similar to those of Korean female models. Our findings demonstrated that Korean female models have a fuller lower vermilion & thinner upper vermilion compared with nonmodel controls, as determined by the vermilion heights, angles, and areas. CONCLUSIONS: It will be helpful for clinicians to use these measurements as guidelines for improving patients' facial esthetics.

The Proposal of Policies Aimed at Tackling Health Inequalities in Korea / 예방의학회지

Although the New National Health Promotion Plan 2010 target to reduce health inequalities, whether the program will be effective for reducing the health inequalities in Korea remains quite unclear. More and more developed countries have been started to concentrate on comprehensive policies for reducing health inequalities. The health policies of the UK, Netherlands, and Sweden are the most wellknown. I propose that a comprehensive blueprint for tackling health inequalities in Korea should be made and that it must contain five domains: a target, structure and process, life-course approach, area-based approach, and reorganization of health care resources. The target should be based on determinants of health and more attention should be paid to socioeconmic factors. The structure and process require changes from the national health care policy based on medical services to the national health policy that involves the establishment of a Social Deputy Prime Minister and the strengthening multidisciplinary action. A life-course approach especially focused on the early childhood years. Area-based approach such as the establishment of healthy communities, healthy schools, or healthy work-places which are focused on deprived areas or places is also required. Finally, health care resources should be a greater investment on public resources and strengthening primary care to reduce health inequalities. The policy or intervention studies for tackling health inequalities should be implemented much more in Korea. In addition, it is essential to have political will to encoruage policy action.

Comparison of Students' Characteristics and Perceptions Before and After Introduction Into Graduate Medical School System / 한국의학교육

PURPOSE: This study was performed to compare the characteristics and perceptions of medical school students and professional graduate medical school students. METHODS: Study subjects were 131 medical students from a national university and 113 applicants of a professional graduate medical school. We developed a self-reported questionnaire asking about socio-demographic characteristics; the level of satisfaction of educational environment; perception of missions of medical education and career plan and student activities during school. RESULTS: Students from the professional graduate medical school were significantly different from medical students in socio-demographic characteristics. They also showed higher satisfaction with their education, were more supportive of student union activities and were more anxious about economic and health problems than medical students. However, there was no difference between the two groups regarding perception of missions of medical education and career plan after graduation. CONCLUSION: Based on the above results, it is necessary to consider the characteristics and perceptions of professional graduate medical students when developing educational policies for these older students. The limitation of this study includes a restricted sample, and generalization of results should be done carefully. Thus, more extensive, wide-ranging studies would be useful.

Educational Differences in Health Care Utilization in the Last Year of Life among South Korean Cancer Patients / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: There have been few studies examining the differences in health care utilization across social classes during the last year of life. Therefore, in this study we analyzed the quantitative and qualitative differences in health care utilization among cancer patients across educational classes in their last year of life, and derived from it implications for policy. METHODS: To evaluate health care utilization by cancer patients in the last year of life, Death certificate data from 2004 were merged with National Health Insurance data (n=60,088). In order to use educational level as a social class index, we selected the individuals aged 40 and over as study subjects (n=57,484). We analyzed the differences in the medical expenditures, admission days, and rates of admission experience across educational classes descriptively. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between medical expenditures and independent variables such as sex, age, education class, site of death and type of cancer. RESULTS: The upper educational class spent much more on medical expenditures in the last one year of life, particularly during the last month of life, than the lower educational class did. The ratio of monthly medical expenditures per capita between the college class and no education class was 2.5 in the last 6-12 months of life, but the ratio was 1.6 in the last 1 month. Also, the lower the educational class, the higher the proportion of medical expenditures during the last one month of life, compared to total medical expenditures in the last one year of life. The college educational class had a much higher rate of admission experiences in tertiary hospitals within Seoul than the other education classes did. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the lower educational classes had qualitative and quantitative disadvantages in utilizing health care services for cancer in the last year of life.

Comparison of mechanical properties in 4 indirect composite resin / 대한치과보철학회지

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The esthetic component of dental care has become increasingly more important, while new tooth-colored materials are continually marketed. Various new indirect composite materials have been developed with required advantages. The most recent development in the indirect composites has been the introduction of the second-generation laboratory composite or poly-glass materials. They are processed by different laboratory techniques based on combinations of heat, pressure, vacuum and light polymerization. Although, second generation products became available in 1995, their characteristics and clinical performance have not been adequately investigated. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to measure the mechanical properties of the second generation indirect resin system and compare these with an existing universal direct composite resin. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study four indirect composite material (Adoro LC, BelleGlass HP, Tescera, Synfony) were tested for flexural strength, wear resistance, hardness and their degree of conversion against Z250, a light cure direct composite. RESULTS: Within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1. From the abrasion wear result, Adoro showed the least volume loss while Synfony showed the greatest volume loss. Z250 and BelleGlass HP didn't show significant difference (p>0.05), but they showed significant difference with other groups (p0.05). While Synfony showed the greatest volume loss that it showed significant difference with other groups (p>0.05). 2. Mean values of flexural strength by means of three point bending test was in the order of Z250, Adoro, Belleglass HP, Tescera and Synfony. Mean elastic modulus was in the order of Z250, BelleGlass HP, Tescera, Adoro and Synfony. 3. The result of Vicker's microhardness value showed that significantly higher value in Z250 (p<0.05), and is in the order of BelleGlass HP, Tescera, Adoro and Synfony. 4. The degree of conversion measured by FT-IR showed significantly higher value in BelleGlass HP (p<0.05), and is in the order of Adoro, Synfony, Tescera and Z250. CONCLUSION: Significant differences were found in the flexural strength, wear resistance, hardness and their degree of conversion.