Geographic distribution of point-in-time access to subsidised dental services in Western Australia
Yevgeni Dudko A , Estie Kruger A B and Marc Tennant AA International Research Collaborative – Oral Health and Equity, School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: estie.kruger@uwa.edu.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 22(6) 569-575 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY15163
Submitted: 24 October 2015 Accepted: 19 December 2015 Published: 1 December 2016
Abstract
Dental Health Services (DHS) is the largest public primary oral healthcare provider in WA. The objective of this study was to calculate probable distance patients are expected to travel to the nearest clinic, gauge utilisation rates and predict the direction of likely changes in future demand for subsidised dental care. Eligible population data was collected from the Department of Human Services and the Australian Bureau of Statistics websites and integrated with the waiting list and the recall list data provided by the DHS. In total, 65% of the eligible WA population are residing in the metropolitan area; however, only 19% of those are either on the waiting list or have already received subsidised care. In all, 35% of the total eligible WA population are residing in country areas. A total of 30% of the eligible country WA patients are located within a 100-km range of a Government Dental Clinic, with only 11% of those either on the waiting list or having already received subsidised dental care. Country WA residents are at a significant disadvantage by comparison to their metropolitan counterparts. Eligible WA country residents are up to 40% less likely to receive treatment when compared to the metropolitan residents.
References
Australian Broadcasting Corporation (2015) Public dental waiting list blowout prompts call for subsidised scheme in WA. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Perth, WA) Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-13/dental-waitlist-blowout-prompts-call-for-subsidised-scheme/6937778 [Verified 8 September 2015]Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) Census dictionary. (Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra, ACT) Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/23D04985E1786824CA25720B0002BB18?opendocument [Verified 1 September 2015]
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2014) Australian demographic statistics. (Australian Bureau of Statistics: Canberra, ACT) Available at http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/3101.0 [Verified 10 September 2015]
Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (2009) Geographic variation in oral health and use of dental services in the Australian population 2004–06. (Dental Statistics and Research Unit: Adelaide, SA) Available at http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442455420 [Verified 10 October 2015]
Biggs A (2008) Overview of Commonwealth involvement in funding dental care. (Parliament of Australia: Canberra, ACT) Available at http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp0809/09rp0 [Verified 1 September 2015]
Chu CH, Lo ECM (1999) Patients’ satisfaction with dental services provided by a university in Hong Kong. International Dental Journal 49, 53–59.
| Patients’ satisfaction with dental services provided by a university in Hong Kong.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3czksFKrtA%3D%3D&md5=a86f1e0dc6d270d8cc007d27b0a4dda4CAS |
Dental Health Services (2008) Eligibility information for adults. (Dental Health Services of Western Australia: Perth, WA) Available at http://www.dental.wa.gov.au/adult/eligibility.php [Verified 10 July 2015]
Dental Health Services (2014) Annual report 2014. (Dental Health Services of Western Australia: Perth, WA) Available at http://www.dental.wa.gov.au/about/DHS%20Annual%20Report%20June%202014.pdf [Verified 30 October 2015]
Department of Human Services (2011) FaHCSIA electorate data December 2011. (Department of Human Services: Canberra, ACT) Available at http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/statistical-information-and-data/centrelink-payment-statistics/ [Verified 15 September 2015]
Dudko Y, Kruger E, Tennant M (2015) Is mix of care influenced by the provider environment? A comparison of four care pathways in oral health. Australian Health Review 39, 51–55.
| Is mix of care influenced by the provider environment? A comparison of four care pathways in oral health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dudko Y, Kruger E, Tennant M (2016) National dental waitlists: what would it take to reset to zero? Australian Health Review 40, 277–281.
| National dental waitlists: what would it take to reset to zero?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kruger E, Tennant M, George R (2011) Application of geographic information systems to the analysis of private dental practices distributed in Western Australia. Rural and Remote Health 11, 1736
Lam R, Kruger E, Tennant M (2012) Experiences in the implementation of a national policy: a retrospective analysis of the Australian Chronic Dental Disease Scheme. The Australasian Medical Journal 5, 551–559.
| Experiences in the implementation of a national policy: a retrospective analysis of the Australian Chronic Dental Disease Scheme.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Metropolitan Health Service (2013) Annual report 2012–13. (Metropolitan Health Service: Perth, WA) Available at http://www.health.wa.gov.au/publications/annual_reports_2013_MHS.pdf [Verified 12 September 2015]
Tennant M, Kruger E (2013) A national audit of Australian dental practice distribution: do all Australians get a fair deal? International Dental Journal 63, 177–182.
| A national audit of Australian dental practice distribution: do all Australians get a fair deal?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
