Log-linear model selections in a rural dental health study.

Abstract

This field study sought to measure the effects of dental delivery and school-based, dental health education on use of dental health care by children in grades K-6. We attempted to control for two potential confounding factors by an approximate randomization of children into treatment groups with stratification on grade and initial oral disease levels. A backward elimination log-linear model selection procedure for the 5-factor classification permitted tests for higher-order interaction, namely effect-modification, confounding and collapsibility. We found that the effect of dental health education on use of dental care depended on the mode of dental delivery.