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Table 1 Characteristics of dental care-seeking behavior in middle-aged and elderly people in northeast China, n (%)

From: Characteristics of dental care-seeking behavior and related sociodemographic factors in a middle-aged and elderly population in northeast China

Characteristic

Middle-aged

Elderly

P*

χ 2

Urban area

Rural area

Total

P

χ 2

Urban area

Rural area

Total

P

χ 2

Number of subjects, n

400

392

792

  

198

198

396

    

Having dental care visit

78 (19.5)

62 15.8)

140 (17.7)

0.174

1.846

51 (25.8)

27 (13.6)

78 (19.7)

0.002

9.196

0.396

0.719

Is there a need for dental care visit?

   

0.034

6.759

   

0.049

6.047

<0.001

31.249

Yes

312 (78.0)

288 (73.5)

600 (75.8)

  

131 (66.2)

110 (55.6)

24 (60.9)

    

No

76 (19.0)

100 (25.5)

176 (22.2)

  

63 (31.8)

86 (43.4)

149 (37.6)

    

Unknown

10 (2.5)

4 (1.0)

14 (1.8)

  

4 (2.0)

2 (1.0)

6 (1.5)

    

Do you need the following dental care?

   

0.092

4.774

       

Extraction, filling, or inlay

332 (83.0)

227 (57.9)

559 (70.6)

  

–

–

–

–

   

Periodontal treatment

62 (15.5)

58 (14.8)

120 (15.2)

  

–

–

–

–

   

Preventive dental care

117 (29.3)

65 (16.6)

182 (23.0)

  

–

–

–

–

   

Reason for seeking dental care

   

0.237

2.879

   

0.001

14.639

0.453

1.585

Regular oral health checkup

15 (3.8)

13 (3.3)

28 (3.5)

  

12 (6.1)

0 (0.0)

12 (3.0)

    

Acute or chronic toothache

328 (82.0)

338 (86.2)

666 (84.1)

  

159 (80.3)

177 (89.4)

336 (84.8)

    

Other reasons

56 (14.0)

40 (10.2)

96 (12.1)

  

23 (11.6)

15 (7.6)

38 (9.6)

    

Received dental care

   

0.195

3.274

   

<0.001

37.980

0.545

1.214

Extraction, filling, or inlay

379 (94.8)

318 (81.1)

697 (88.0)

  

184 (92.9)

197 (99.5)

381 (96.2)

    

Periodontal treatment

36 (9.0)

20 (5.1)

56 (7.1)

  

31 (15.7)

0 (0.0)

31 (7.8)

    

Preventive dental care

10 (2.5)

13 (3.3)

23 (2.9)

  

8 (4.0)

0 (0.0)

8 (2.0)

    

Reason for not visiting a dentist

   

<0.001

35.520

   

0.155

6.662

<0.001

29.766

No oral diseases

158 (39.5)

209 (53.3)

367 (46.3)

  

90 (45.5)

91 (46.0)

181 (45.7)

    

Oral disease was not severe

124 (31.0)

173 (44.1)

297 (37.5)

  

78 (39.4)

101 (51.0)

179 (45.2)

    

No time

50 (12.5)

67 (17.1)

117 (14.8)

  

11 (5.6)

16 (8.1)

27 (6.8)

    

Economic issue

130 (32.5)

80 (20.4)

210 (26.5)

  

67 (33.8)

89 (44.9)

156 (39.4)

    

No dentists nearby

9 (2.3)

33 (8.4)

42 (5.3)

  

3 (1.5)

13 (6.6)

16 (4.0)

    

Payment

   

<0.001

72.737

   

<0.001

66.231

0.084

6.658

Imbursement

10 (2.5)

1 (0.3)

11 (1.4)

  

8 (4.0)

3 (1.5)

11 (2.8)

    

Health insurance

80 (20.0)

10 (2.6)

90 (11.4)

  

58 (29.3)

2 (1.0)

60 (15.2)

    

New social health insurance

0 (0.0)

4 (1.0)

4 (0.5)

  

1 (0.5)

0 (0.0)

1 (0.3)

    

At one’s own expense

307 (76.8)

376 95.9)

683 (86.2)

  

133 (67.2)

192 (97.0)

325 (82.1)

    

Type of clinic

   

<0.001

150.303

   

<0.001

65.365

<0.001

42.544

Dental specialized hospital

26 (6.5)

34 (8.7)

60 (7.6)

  

15 (7.6)

0 (0.0)

15 (3.8)

    

Provincial general hospital

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

  

4 (2.0)

0 (0.0)

4 (1.0)

    

Municipal/county general hospital

128 (32.0)

27 (6.9)

155 (19.6)

  

31 (15.7)

15 (7.6)

46 (11.6)

    

Community health service centers

10 (2.5)

13 (3.3)

23 (2.9)

  

8 (4.0)

7 (3.5)

15 (3.8)

    

Dental care research institutions

10 (2.5)

13 (3.3)

23 (2.9)

  

12 (6.1)

0 (0.0)

12 (3.0)

    

Dental care outpatients

62 (15.5)

7 (1.8)

69 (8.7)

  

15 (7.6)

0 (0.0)

15 (3.8)

    

Private clinics

164 (41.0)

298 (76.0)

462 (58.3)

  

113 (57.1)

176 (88.9)

289 (73.0)

    
  1. *35–44 years-old vs 65–74 years-old