Utilisation of domiciliary dental services.

OBJECTIVES

To develop undergraduate dental student understanding of the attitudes of elderly people towards dentistry and of the barriers which prevent them from seeking treatment.

DESIGN

Each student interviewed a) an elderly person already known to them and b) an elderly person at a Day Rehabilitation Unit using a questionnaire. Students were not trained nor standardised.

SETTING

a) in the student's home locality, b) in a Rehabilitation Unit in Sheffield.

SUBJECTS

161 people were interviewed with mean ages a) 78 years and b) 85 years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Perceptions of treatment need and domiciliary treatment by these elderly people. The results are summarised but not analysed because of the inherent limitations of data derived by unsupervised students.

CONCLUSIONS

This educational exercise successfully engaged the studentsí minds and, for some, generated enthusiasm. They achieved valuable insight into the topic and realised that many people who inevitably have dental problems either feel that this is acceptable or do not know that they can obtain domiciliary dental care.