Biomedical subjects

N M Reifel

Publications and source records attributed to N M Reifel.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

ICS-II USA research locations: environmental, dental care delivery system, and population sociodemographic characteristics.

Secondary data sources are used to describe the ICS-II USA research locations in terms of external environment, dental care delivery system, and population sociodemographics. The Native American reservations located in Arizona, New Mexico, and South Dakota were rural, while the other research locations were primarily urban. Baltimore, Maryland, and the Native American communities had fluoridated water, but San Antonio did not. Dental services in Baltimore and San Antonio were predominantly financed by private sources, with a small public health component. Dental care services in Native American communities were largely Indian Health Services (IHS) financed by the US Government. Each geographical area exhibited diverse characteristics indicating unique challenges for the delivery of community and clinical dental services.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Clinical measures and treatment needs.

Clinically evaluated oral health outcome variables from the ICS-II USA data set were examined in the diverse ethnic groups, for two adult age cohorts (35-44 and 65-74 years). These measures were derived from epidemiological examinations and include the DMFT components, loss of attachment, and an indicator of treatment need--the ratio of decayed teeth over decayed and filled teeth. The ratio of decayed over decayed and filled teeth was used in multivariate analysis, since this measure represents an area where public policy could have an impact if determinants were understood. The most important independent variables were race-ethnicity, educational attainment, no fear of dental visits because of pain, and oral hygiene practices. Having a usual source of dental care and visiting the dentist within the past 12 months did not appear to be as important in predicting unmet needs as these other variables. To bridge the gap between the oral health status of majority and minority populations, health educators in minority communities need to become more accessible, have a pro-active interest in oral health, and also be cognizant of the various socio-cultural issues influencing oral health. The problems regarding Native American adults are more complex and require more careful study.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Consumer satisfaction.

Patient satisfaction with dental care is compared across six United States groups: Whites in Baltimore and San Antonio, African-Americans in Baltimore, Hispanics in San Antonio, and Native Americans in the Southwest and the Dakotas. First, differences in patient satisfaction across ethnic groups and between two age groups (65-74 years old and 35-44 years old) are considered. Generally, people from all age and ethnic groups were satisfied with the last dental visit. Second, patient satisfaction is conceptualized as an oral health outcome influenced by characteristics of the dental service utilizer: predisposing sociodemographic characteristics, predisposing oral beliefs, enabling characteristics, oral needs, oral health behaviors, and oral health status. Multivariate analyses by age and ethnic group are used to identify characteristics that influence patient satisfaction. Sociodemographic characteristics were important among the elderly. Strong oral health beliefs influenced patient satisfaction among younger adults. Enabling characteristics were important predictors among the Native American groups. This model explained 15%-30% of the variability in patient satisfaction among the study age and ethnic groups.

Adult↗