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Operationalisation of the construct of access to dental care: a position paper and proposed conceptual definitions.
- Source :
-
Community dental health [Community Dent Health] 2013 Jun; Vol. 30 (2), pp. 94-101. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background: 'Access' is a term readily used in a political and policy context, but one which has not leant itself to measurement of progress towards policy goals or comparisons between health systems. Like 'quality', 'access' is a multi-dimensional construct, but currently often remains a vague and abstract concept which is difficult to translate into something specific, concrete and therefore measureable.<br />Methods: The paper describes previous work and identifies a need for a greater consensus and conceptual clarity in the selection of metrics for dental access.<br />Results: The construct of dental access is described as involving the concepts of 1: opportunity for access; 2, realised access (utilisation); 3, equity and 4, outcomes. Proposed conceptual definitions are given and a case made for measuring 'initial utilisation' separately from 'continued utilisation', reflecting modern approaches which distinguish 'entry access' (gaining entry to the dental care system), from the process of gaining access to higher levels of care. Using a distinction between 'entry access' and 'effective access' allows a choice of whether to restrict measurement to mainly supply side considerations, or alternatively to extend the measurement to include whether there is equity in the proportion of patients who are able obtain effective needed interventions.<br />Conclusions: A development of conceptual definitions of dental access could facilitate measurement of progress towards policy goals and operationalisation of the construct.
- Subjects :
- Consensus
Continuity of Patient Care
Dental Health Services statistics & numerical data
Efficiency, Organizational
Health Policy
Health Resources
Health Services Needs and Demand
Health Services Research
Healthcare Disparities
Humans
Models, Theoretical
Needs Assessment
Organizational Objectives
Outcome Assessment, Health Care
Power, Psychological
Dental Care statistics & numerical data
Health Services Accessibility
Terminology as Topic
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0265-539X
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Community dental health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 23888539