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Cost as a barrier to accessing dental care: findings from a C anadian population‐based study
Author(s) -
Thompson Brandy,
Cooney Peter,
Lawrence Herenia,
Ravaghi Vahid,
Quiñonez Carlos
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of public health dentistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1752-7325
pISSN - 0022-4006
DOI - 10.1111/jphd.12048
Subject(s) - dental insurance , medicine , operationalization , dental care , socioeconomic status , population , family medicine , logistic regression , health care , environmental health , dentistry , philosophy , epistemology , economics , economic growth
Objective The aim of this study is to determine the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of C anadians who report cost barriers to dental care. Methods An analysis of data collected from the 2007/09 C anadian Health Measures Survey was undertaken from a sample of 5,586 C anadian participants aged 6–79. Cost barriers to dental care were operationalized through two questions: “ In the past 12 months, have you avoided going to a dental professional because of the cost of dental care? ” and “ In the past 12 months, have you avoided having all the dental treatment that was recommended because of the cost? ” Logistic regressions were conducted to identify relationships between covariates and positive responses to these questions. Results Approximately 17.3 percent of respondents had avoided a dental professional because of cost within the previous year, and 16.5 percent had declined recommended dental treatment because of cost. Adjusted estimates demonstrate that respondents with lower incomes and without dental insurance were over four times more likely to avoid a dental professional because of cost and approximately two and a half times more likely to decline recommended dental treatment because of cost. Conclusions Nearly one out of five C anadians surveyed reported cost barriers to dental care. This study provides valuable baseline information for future studies to assess whether financial barriers to dental care are getting better or worse for C anadians.