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Biomedical subjects

J R Freed

Publications and source records attributed to J R Freed.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

A Markovian model for evaluating dental care programs.

A Markov model is suggested as a means of evaluating dental care programs. Four mutually exclusive states of dental care are defined as Markovian states. These are episodic, initial, maintenance and nonuse. Records for all patients entering a university teaching clinic (n = 578) over a 12-month period were examined and classified in one of the states of care at entry into the clinic and at 1-year intervals from the date of entry for 3 years. An analysis of the findings indicated that the Markov model did fit reasonably well and provided a good approximation of the empirical data.

Dental Care

Dental health: what is being taught to college students.

An analysis of the dental health material in all college-level, health education textbooks published between 1966 and 1973 showed a deficiency in the amount, the thoroughness, and the quality of the dental health information given. Realibility of information from one source to another is low, and some information is inaccurate. On the basis of information in these textbooks, serious questions are raised concerning the adequacy of dental health education in college-level health education courses. The dentist is advised to review and to examine the dental health information that is being taught in these courses.

Adolescent

Educational value of a university-sponsored community dental clinic: a three year student evaluation.

The overall assessment of the clinic experience by the students was positive. Response to the open-ended questions showed that a number of students took pride in the Venice clinic and that they gained a great deal of personal and professional satisfaction from being able to provide service to people in a low-income and minority community. Almost 90% stated that their understanding of health problems of the poor was improved; 75% felt that their ability to relate to patients from different backgrounds was broadened; and 45% expressed more willingness to practice in a low-income area. This community setting also enlarged the scope of the students' clinical experience. Over 50% saw pathological conditions that they had not viewed previously. In addition, over 90% of the students did at least 50% more work, and over half of these performed twice as much treatment.

Community Dentistry

Utilization of emergency dental services by rural, nonreservation Indians.

The Shasta-Trinity-Siskiyou Indian dental clinic, which serves rural, nonreservation Indians in California, implemented a health education program designed to convert patients from an emergency to a routine care basis. A study was conducted, therefore, of the utilization patterns of 109 emergency patients treated at a clinic from September, 1971, through November, 1972, in order to provide information to improve this educational program. The results of the study showed that 58.7 percent of the emergency patients returned for routine care. Analyses of those patients who returned and those who did not return for care were made with regard to age, sex, time since last dental visit, and type of emergency treatment received. There were significant differences between the two groups of emergency patients with regard to age and type of treatment received. Those most likely to return for routine care were the patients 15 years or younger, and those who had received operative care. The emergency patients in the 16-25 age group, and those who received periodontal care were the least likely to return. No significant differences were found with regard to sex, or time since last dental visit. The emergency patients and patients whose initial visit to the clinic was for routine care were compared. A significant difference was found with regard to age. The patients 15 years or younger had the lowest percentage of initial visits for emergency care, and the 16-25 year age group had the highest. No significant differences were found with regard to sex, or time since last dental visit. This study may well be the first to examine the utilization of dental services by rural, non reservation Indians. The findings presented can serve as a basis for future investigation to improve the provision of dental services to this patient population.

Adolescent