Irish Dental Association

Public Entitlements to Dental Care

National Survey

Prepared for:

Prepared by John O’Mahony

J.4255

November 2012

2

Research Background & Objectives

The Irish Dental Association required a face to face omnibus survey to be conducted on public entitlements to dental care.

This study builds on the findings of a similar study conducted in 2010.

The national survey was conducted on the Behaviour & Attitudes Barometer survey.

Each Barometer survey is based on a nationally representative quota sample of 1,000 adults (aged 16 years and over) with a fresh sample used for each fortnightly survey.

All interviewing is carried out face-to-face in respondents’ homes and care is taken to ensure that the overall interview length does not exceed 25-30 minutes duration.

The interview is syndicated (i.e. multi-topic) but each section is confidential to its commissioning client (and therefore there are no conflicting sections on each survey).

Interviewing is conducted across 63 separate sampling points per survey and all aspects of this Barometer survey are identical to using a bespoke, ad hoc survey approach.

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Research Background & Objectives

Within each sampling point, respondents are selected on the basis of quota controls relating to gender, age and social class within region – to ensure that the resultant sample is a microcosm of the national adult population. Quota controls are based on the most recent Census statistics of the national population.

All interviewing is conducted by fully trained and experienced members of the Behaviour & Attitudes field-force, who work under direct supervision and are subject to rigorous quality controls (personal, postal and telephone checks).  All aspects of our Barometer survey operate to the guideline standards established by the company’s membership of the MRS and ESOMAR (the international industry representative body).

Survey interviewing took place between 7th and 21st November, 2012.

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Dental Entitlements

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Dental EntitlementsBase: All Adults – 1,004 (pop. 3,591,000)

Yes

No

Q.1 Which, if any, of the following apply to you personally?

% %%

I hold a Medical

Card

I avail of PRSI

dental entitlemen

ts

I always receive

private dental treatment

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Dental EntitlementsBase: All Adults – 1,004 (pop. 3,591,000)

Total

Gender Age Social Class Region

MaleFemal

e-24

25-34

35-49

50-64

65+ ABC1 C2DE FDubli

nLeins Muns

Conn/ Uls

Base 1,004 499 505 150 192 278 214 143 474 458 72 284 256 288 176

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Hold a medical card

45 41 49 37 38 43 38 76 27 60 36 34 45 51 52

Avail of PRSI dental entitlements

32 31 33 14 41 42 30 22 37 31 17 32 29 32 36

Always receive private dental treatment

59 58 60 56 58 62 65 50 74 48 60 69 64 46 56

Q.1 Which, if any, of the following apply to you personally?

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Impact of Restrictions to Dental Benefits

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Have restrictions to dental benefits caused postponement of dental treatment in past year?

Yes

No

Q.2a Have these restrictions to PRSI dental benefits caused you to postpone any dental treatment in the past year?Q.3a Have these restrictions in the medical card dental scheme caused you to postpone any dental treatment in the past year?

% %%

Avail of PRSI dental/privat

e dentalBase: 714

Medical Card

HoldersBase: 429

ANYBase: 930

(648,000 pop. est.)

(472,000 pop. est.)

(944,000 pop. est.)

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Have restrictions to dental benefits caused postponements of dental treatments in past year?

Avail of PRSI Dental/Private Dental

Total

Gender Age Social Class Region

MaleFemal

e-24

25-34

35-49

50-64

65+ ABC1 C2DE FDubli

nLeins Muns

Conn/ Uls

Base 714 347 367 94 141 220 159 85 384 288 42 224 192 177 121

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Yes 26 24 28 17 29 34 27 6 23 30 14 21 28 27 30

Medical Card Holders

Total

Gender Age Social Class Region

MaleFemal

e-24

25-34

35-49

50-64

65+ ABC1 C2DE FDubli

nLeins Muns

Conn/ Uls

Base 429 197 232 54 69 107 78 105 132 269 28 88 117 137 87

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Yes 29 25 33 34 30 35 37 14 29 31 15 20 27 37 31

Q.2a Have these restrictions to PRSI dental benefits caused you to postpone any dental treatment in the past year?Q.3a Have these restrictions in the medical card dental scheme caused you to postpone any dental treatment in the past year?

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Missing time from work or school in past year with a dental problem

Yes

No

Q.2b Have you, your partner or any member of your family, missed any time from work or school in the past year with a dental problem?

Q.3b Have you, your partner or any member of your family, missed any time from work or school in the past year with a dental problem?

% %%

Avail of PRSI dental/private dental

- And postponed dental treatment past year

Base: 184

Medical Card Holders- And postponed

dental treatment past year

Base: 138

ANY-Postponed dental

treatment past year

Base: 274

(134,000 pop. est.)

(123,000 pop. est.)

(223,000 pop. est.)

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Restrictions to dental benefits Impact on future frequency of visits to Dentists

Yes, I will visit less

frequently

Yes, I will visit more

frequently

No effect/no change

Q.2c Looking to the future, would you expect these restrictions in PRSI dental benefits to affect your frequency of visiting a dentist from now on?

Q.3c Looking to the future, would you expect these restrictions in the medical card dental scheme to affect your frequency of visiting a dentist from now on?

(1.1m pop. est.)

AVAIL OF PRSI DENTAL/PRIVATE

DENTAL

MEDICAL CARD HOLDERS

ANY

2012 2010 2012 2010 2012% % % % %

There has been a sharp rise in medical card holders who intend to reduce their future dental visit frequency due to restrictions in dental benefits.

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Restrictions to dental benefits Impact on future frequency of visits to Dentists

Avail of PRSI Dental/Private Dental

Total

Gender Age Social Class Region

MaleFemal

e-24

25-34

35-49

50-64

65+ ABC1 C2DE FDubli

nLeins Muns

Conn/ Uls

Base 714 347 367 94 141 220 159 85 384 288 42 224 192 177 121

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Yes I will visit less frequently

30 29 32 24 41 36 25 11 29 35 3 26 29 36 32

Medical Card Holders

Total

Gender Age Social Class Region

MaleFemal

e-24

25-34

35-49

50-64

65+ ABC1 C2DE FDubli

nLeins Muns

Conn/ Uls

Base 429 197 232 54 69 107 78 105 132 269 28 88 117 137 87

% % % % % % % % % % % % % % %

Yes I will visit less frequently

38 34 40 45 44 47 38 18 37 40 13 31 30 48 38

Q.2c Looking to the future, would you expect these restrictions in PRSI dental benefits to affect your frequency of visiting a dentist from now on?

Q.3c Looking to the future, would you expect these restrictions in the medical card dental scheme to affect your frequency of visiting a dentist from now on?

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Restrictions to Dental Benefits- Summary Impact

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Restrictions to Dental Benefits – Summary Impact

Avail of PRSI Dental Benefits/Private Dental

30% (759,000 pop. est.) expect to visit the dentist less frequently from now on due to restrictions.

26% (648,000 pop. est.) have postponed dental treatments in past year due to restrictions.

21% of ‘Postponers’ or a member of their family, have missed time from work or school in past year with a dental problem (134,000 pop. est.).

Medical Card Holders

38% (604,000 pop. est.) expect to visit the dentist less frequently from now on due to restrictions.

29% (472,000 pop. est.) have postponed dental treatments in past year due to restrictions.

26% of ‘Postponers’ or a member of their family, have missed time from work or school in past year with a dental problem (123,000 pop. est.).

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Restrictions to Dental Benefits – Summary Impact

All Adults with Medical Card or Availing of PRSI Dental Benefits/Private Dental Care

33% (1.1m pop. est) expect to visit the dentist less frequently from now on due to restrictions.

29% (944,000 pop. est.) have postponed dental treatments in past year due to restrictions.

24% of ‘Postponers’ or a member of their family, have missed time from work or school in past year with a dental problem (223,000 pop. est.).

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Thank you