Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of this study was to describe practice activity trends among oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia over time.MethodsAll registered oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia were surveyed in 1990 and 2000 using mailed self-complete questionnaires.ResultsData were available from 79 surgeons from 1990 (response rate = 73.8%) and 116 surgeons from 2000 (response rate = 65.1%). The rate of provision of services per visit changed over time with increased rates observed overall (from 1.43 ± 0.05 services per visit in 1990 to 1.66 ± 0.06 services per visit in 2000), reflecting increases in pathology and reconstructive surgery. No change over time was observed in the provision of services per year (4,521 ± 286 services per year in 1990 and 4,503 ± 367 services per year in 2000). Time devoted to work showed no significant change over time (1,682 ± 75 hours per year in 1990 and 1,681 ± 94 hours per year in 2000), while the number of visits per week declined (70 ± 4 visits per week in 1990 to 58 ± 4 visits per week in 2000).ConclusionsThe apparent stability in the volume of services provided per year reflected a counterbalancing of increased services provided per visit and a decrease in the number of visits supplied.
Highlights
The aim of this study was to describe practice activity trends among oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia over time
Response and background characteristics by year of study Data were available from 79 surgeons from 1990 and 116 from 2000
The distribution of services per year reflected the pattern for services per visit with dentoalveolar services dominating
Summary
The aim of this study was to describe practice activity trends among oral and maxillofacial surgeons in Australia over time. In Australia the majority of dentists work in private general practice [1]. Few are specialists (10.8%), of which 16.8% are oral and maxillofacial surgeons accounting for 1.9% of all practising dentists. The major trends in oral health in Australia over recent decades indicate improved oral health among the population. Service trends in private general practice have reflected the trends towards improved oral health with a shift towards higher provision of services such as diagnostic, preventive and endodontic consistent with the retention and maintenance of a natural dentition [6]. Questionnaire Time worked: Hours per day [HPD].
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