Changes and factors associated with dentists’ willingness to treat patients with severe disabilities

ObjectiveThis study investigated changes in dentists’ willingness to treat severely disabled patients and to understand dentists’ opinions on reimbursements after the implementation of a dental care financial reward program in Taiwan.MethodsThree hundred dentists from 29 teaching hospitals were randomly selected to answer a structured questionnaire, and 184 structured questionnaires were returned. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the factors associated with dentists’ willingness to treat severely disabled patients.ResultsApproximately 60% of the dentists said reimbursements for treatment of severely disabled patients were reasonable. 50.4% of dentists were willing or very willing to treat disabled patients. Seventy-nine percent dentists affected by the program had a higher willingness but 83.7% dentists said this program did not make a significant difference to their income. 52.8% of dentists agreed the program would increase the quality of dental care. The factors significantly affecting dentists’ willingness included dentist's age, specialty field, perception of the program in promoting the quality of dental services, and perception of the ability to provide adequate treatments for severely disabled patients.ConclusionsThe rewards program significantly increased the willingness of most hospital-base dentists to treat the severely disabled patients although the effect of incentive to their income was limited.