Reisine S, Miller J
Soc Sci Med. 1985;21(12):1309-14. doi: 10.1016/0277-9536(85)90433-2.
This paper analyzes the effects of dental conditions on social functioning by measuring the incidence of work loss days associated with dental problems and treatments in 1 year. A longitudinal study of 1992 employed adults in the Hartford, Conn. area was conducted. Participants were interviewed at baseline to collect data on sociodemographic, health care and health status factors and were followed for 1 year to assess the incidence of dental work loss days. The results showed that 26.4% of the sample reported an episode of dentally-related work, with a mean of 1.26 hours per person per year. The most important predictors of having work loss were high number of dental visits, previously having an episode of work loss, being young and being in the higher social classes. The most important variables explaining total hours of work loss were treatment severity, previous work loss, low income and being non-white. While work loss rates varied by some important treatment and sociodemographic factors, more sensitive outcome indicators are needed to detect individual differences in the effects of dental conditions on social functioning. Yet, the results do suggest that work loss days may be a useful population statistic in measuring oral health status because of the high prevalence of dental disease.
本文通过测量与牙齿问题及治疗相关的误工天数在1年中的发生率，分析了牙齿状况对社会功能的影响。对康涅狄格州哈特福德地区1992名在职成年人进行了一项纵向研究。在基线时对参与者进行访谈，以收集有关社会人口统计学、医疗保健和健康状况因素的数据，并对其进行为期1年的跟踪，以评估牙齿误工天数的发生率。结果显示，26.4%的样本报告有与牙齿相关的误工情况，平均每人每年误工1.26小时。误工的最重要预测因素是看牙次数多、之前有过误工情况、年轻以及社会阶层较高。解释误工总时长的最重要变量是治疗严重程度、之前的误工情况、低收入和非白人。虽然误工率因一些重要的治疗和社会人口统计学因素而有所不同，但需要更敏感的结果指标来检测牙齿状况对社会功能影响的个体差异。然而，结果确实表明，由于牙齿疾病的高患病率，误工天数可能是衡量口腔健康状况的一个有用的总体统计数据。
