Medications prescribed in emergency departments for nontraumatic dental condition visits in the United States. Med Care 2012 Jun;50(6):508-12
Date
05/16/2012Pubmed ID
22584886Pubmed Central ID
PMC3353147DOI
10.1097/MLR.0b013e318245a575Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84862069741 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 50 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Prior research has documented factors associated with nontraumatic dental condition (NTDC) visits to emergency departments (EDs), but little is known about the care received by patients in EDs for NTDC visits.
OBJECTIVE: We examined national trends in prescription of analgesics and antibiotics in EDs for NTDC visits in the United States.
RESEARCH DESIGN: We analyzed data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care survey from 1997 to 2007. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine factors associated with receiving analgesics and antibiotics for NTDC visits in EDs.
RESULTS: Overall 74% received at least 1 analgesic, 56% received at least 1 antibiotic, and 13% received no medication at all during NTDC visits to EDs. The prescription of medications at EDs for NTDC visits steadily increased over time for analgesics (odds ratio=1.11/y, P<0.0001) and antibiotics (odds ratio=1.06/y, P<0.0001). In the multivariable analysis, self-pay patients had significantly higher adjusted odds of receiving antibiotics, whereas those with nondental reasons for visits and children (0-4 y) had significantly lower adjusted odds of receiving a prescription for antibiotics in EDs for NTDC visits. Children (0-4 y), adults (53-72 y), and older adults (73 y and older) had lower adjusted odds (P<0.001) of receiving analgesics.
CONCLUSIONS: Nationally, analgesic and antibiotic prescriptions for NTDC visits to EDs have increased substantially over time. Self-pay patients had significantly higher odds of being prescribed antibiotics. Adults over 53 years and especially those 73 years and older had significantly lower odds of receiving analgesics in EDs for NTDC visits.
Author List
Okunseri C, Okunseri E, Thorpe JM, Xiang Q, Szabo AAuthors
Christopher Okunseri DDS,MS Associate Professor and Director in the Clinical Services department at Marquette UniversityAniko Szabo PhD Professor in the Institute for Health and Equity department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Age Factors
Aged
Analgesics
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Child
Child, Preschool
Drug Prescriptions
Drug Utilization
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Humans
Infant
Male
Middle Aged
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Sex Factors
Socioeconomic Factors
Stomatognathic Diseases
United States
Young Adult
