The clinical significance of the digital patient record.
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BACKGROUND: Computer technology has revolutionized the way the world does business, allowing us to work faster, smarter and more efficiently than ever before. Computers first made their way into the dental office in the late 1960s as an accounts receivable device. Today, we can digitize anything and recall it in the operatory with the patient. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This article discusses new trends in the digital patient record and the benefits this technology provides to the dental team in terms of improved data collection and recording. It also discusses the benefits a digital patient record provides to patients, as well as how to communicate patients' oral health needs using these electronic tools. (+info)
Orthodontic therapists--the current situation.
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The promise of the U.K. being allowed to use auxiliary help in orthodontics is slowly gaining momentum. At long last, key factors are under discussion, such as permitted duties, length of training, etc. This article describes the present situation and highlights the disappointing rate of progress (+info)
Methods for the design and administration of web-based surveys.
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This paper describes the design, development, and administration of a Web-based survey to determine the use of the Internet in clinical practice by 450 dental professionals. The survey blended principles of a controlled mail survey with data collection through a Web-based database application. The survey was implemented as a series of simple HTML pages and tested with a wide variety of operating environments. The response rate was 74.2 percent. Eighty-four percent of the participants completed the Web-based survey, and 16 percent used e-mail or fax. Problems identified during survey administration included incompatibilities/technical problems, usability problems, and a programming error. The cost of the Web-based survey was 38 percent less than that of an equivalent mail survey. A general formula for calculating breakeven points between electronic and hardcopy surveys is presented. Web-based surveys can significantly reduce turnaround time and cost compared with mail surveys and may enhance survey item completion rates. (+info)
The privatisation of NHS dentistry? A national snapshot of general dental practitioners.
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There is a prevalent perception that NHS dental treatment is increasingly difficult to access. In order to access the validity of this perception data on the percentage of private and NHS patients treated by general dental practitioners (GDPs) were analysed. These data were derived from a national survey. The findings showed that GDPs can be divided into three broad groups on the basis of the proportion of patients treated privately or through the National Health Service (NHS). Approximately 50% of GDPs nationally concentrate on NHS dentistry (85% or more of their patients are treated under the NHS); 25% treat more than 70% of their patients privately; the remaining minority of practitioners fall between these two positions treating moderate proportions of both private and NHS patients. Regional differences also exist in the payment systems chosen by GDPs. The median percentage of private patients per dentist varies widely by area being around 50% in the South East and South West, 30% in London, 20% in the West Midlands and Eastern counties and less than 10% elsewhere. In a multivariate regression GDP characteristics were also significant in explaining the median percentage of private patients per GDP The findings add to widely held concerns about access to NHS dentistry, though suggest that problems may be limited to certain areas of the United Kingdom. (+info)
Oral healthcare in transition in Eastern Europe.
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Big changes have occurred in the oral healthcare delivery systems of most Eastern European countries since the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989 and the demise of communism in the former USSR in 1991. In the new situation it was necessary to reform the political and social systems including healthcare. Reforms were started to improve the economy and, in comparison with Western Europe, the generally lower living standards. It is difficult to obtain comprehensive data on oral healthcare in Eastern European countries but this paper reports data from nine countries and provides a 'macro' view of the current situation in these countries. Many countries seem to have adopted a Bismarckian model for the provision of oral healthcare based on a sickness insurance system. (+info)
Private or NHS General Dental Service care in the United Kingdom? A study of public perceptions and experiences.
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BACKGROUND: Recent changes in the NHS General Dental Service have led to a reduction in the availability of NHS dental care and increased charges. This study explores public and user views and experiences of NHS and private dental care in the light of these changes. METHODS: The study employed a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods. The first phase involved a postal survey of a random sample of adults on the electoral registers in a county in Southern England, which yielded a response rate of 55 per cent (n = 1506). Follow-up face-to-face interviews were carried out with sub-samples (n = 50) selected from survey respondents. RESULTS: The evidence shows greater satisfaction with certain aspects of private care than with NHS dental care and suggests that the decline in perceived quality of NHS care is less to do with the quality of dental technical skills and more to do with perceived access and availability. However, there was general support for the egalitarian principles associated with NHS dentistry, although payment for dental care by users was acceptable even though dentistry on the NHS was preferred. CONCLUSION: The shift in the balance of NHS and private dental care reflects the interests and preferences of dentists rather than of the public. It suggests, however, that a continued shift towards private practice is a trend that the public will not find acceptable, which might limit the extent of expansion of private practice. (+info)
Analysing information.
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The process of gathering information should remain completely separate from the process of analysing it, or else assumptions can be made that might lead the organisation into some hasty training without appreciating the full picture. (+info)
Learning styles.
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Before we can draw up our plan we need to first look at learning itself, and be aware that a number of different learning styles exist which can influence our choice of appropriate training. (+info)