December 2006

Volume 23, Issue 4

Performance indicators used to assess the quality of primary dental care

Authors: G.Z. González N. Klazinga G.T. Asbroek D.M. Delnoij
doi:

Abstract

An appropriate quality of medical care including dental care should be an objective of every government that aims to improve the oral health of its population. Objectives: To determine performance indicators that could be used to assess the quality of primary dental care at different levels of a health care system, the sources for data collection and finally, the dimensions of quality measured by these indicators. Method: An explorative study of the international literature was conducted using medical databases, journals and books, and official websites of organisations and associations. Results: This resulted in a set of 57 indicators, which were classified into the following dimensions for each intended user group: For patients: health outcomes and subjective indicators; for professionals: their performance and the rates of success, failure and complications; for health care system managers and policymakers: their resources, finances and health care utilisation. Conclusion: A set of 57 performance indicators were identified to assess the quality of primary dental care at the levels of patients, professionals and the health care system. These indicators could be used by managers and decision-makers at any level of the health care system according to the characteristics of the services. Key words: dental care, dentistry, indicators, management, performance indicators, performance measures, quality.

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Editorial - Presentations and conferences: can we measure their value? 194-196 Download
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DIAGNOdent - an adjunctive diagnostic method for caries diagnosis in epidemiology 217-221 Download
Prevalence and factors associated with traumatic dental injuries (TDI) to anterior teeth of 11-13 year old Thai children 222-227 Download
Performance indicators used to assess the quality of primary dental care 228-235 Download
A survey of school dental screening practise in community dental services of England and Wales in 2003 236-238 Download
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Prevalence of dental caries in obese and normal-weight Brazilian adolescents attending state and private schools. 251-253 Download
Abstracts - Papers presented at the BASCD Spring Presidential meeting in Cambridge, UK, March 2006 254-254 Download

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