Information sharing between the dental healthcare and child welfare services regarding child maltreatment-A repeated cross-sectional study in Norway

BACKGROUND

Little is known about dental healthcare workers reported suspected child maltreatment to and received inquiry from the child welfare services (CWS).

AIM

Assess time lag differences in public dental healthcare workers' information sharing with CWS and identify sociodemographic and attitudinal covariates of information sharing with CWS in 2014 and 2019.

DESIGN

In 2014 and 2019, a national census of 1542 and 1791 Norwegian dental health care workers, respectively, were invited to participate in an electronic survey. Of them, 1200 (77.8%) and 1270 (70.9%) replied to the questionnaires. Time trends of reported child maltreatment and received inquiries were estimated and adjusted for sociodemographics, attitudes, trust, and collaborative routines in logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

The likelihood of reported child maltreatment to and received inquiry from CWS was higher in 2019 than in 2014 (OR 1.4 [95% CI 1.2-1.7] and OR 1.1 [95% CI 0.9-1.4]). Significant associations occurred with sociodemographic characteristics, attitudes, and collaborative routines. The likelihood of receiving inquiry about whether being employed long versus short term was higher in 2019 than in 2014.

CONCLUSION

Information sharing between dental healthcare workers and CWS improved across time and might promote beneficial outcomes.

Perception of dental students regarding possible career challenges and associated factors towards working in rural areas: A questionnaire based survey

OBJECTIVE

The shortage of health care professionals in rural areas contributes toward discriminatory health care delivery. The present study was planned with a similar intent and aimed to evaluate the perception of dental students regarding their future in rural areas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was designed as a cross-sectional study comprising of a 30-item questionnaire survey instrument distributed among a total of 550 dental students while the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Independent student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison among the variables while the Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the variables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the attitude based on gender (P = 0.43), although, a statistically significant difference was observed in the attitude of students based on the year of their education with a positive attitude toward rural dental practice generally noted in the first year Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students which significantly declined with the increasing level of education (P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Dental students were more influenced by the negative aspects of rural dental practice though they had, in their mind, a positive approach for the same at the beginning of their education, but this significantly declined with the increasing level of their education.

A framework for oral health care value-based payment approaches

BACKGROUND

Dental practice has remained relatively insulated from payment upheavals in the broader health care system. The prevailing value-based payment (VBP) models in health care are largely absent in oral health care. The authors present an oral health care value-based payment framework for dentistry.

METHODS

The authors developed a VBP framework for oral health care, which describes 9 distinct methods to create VBP approaches in dentistry. The framework is based on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Learning Action Network framework for health care payment reform.

RESULTS

The oral health care value-based payment framework includes 4 payment categories and 9 separate payment mechanisms. These 9 payment mechanisms range on a value continuum, each with different financial risks and rewards as well as distinct value implications.

CONCLUSIONS

Although dental practice has made extraordinary advances in restorative dentistry, payers and policy makers are advocating for greater value outcomes. VBP models seek to deliver better care more efficiently by means of providing oral health providers the resources needed to increase the value proposition. With relatively minor modifications in practice patterns, VBP models can be developed and implemented for oral health care.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

This article can be used as a road map to take steps toward oral health care VBP approaches. The framework highlights how dentistry can learn from payment reforms under way in the health care system and present a model for oral health care payment and care delivery reform, and provides recommendations to advance oral health care VBP.