Dunn County comprehensive health assessment: Phase II physical and dental health

Abstract

This study was designed to assess the healthcare services available in Dunn County and the health and wellness needs of residents in the county. This report focused on the areas of physical and dental health. For the purposes of this report, physical and dental healthcare referred to an individual’s physiological needs, or body needs, either acute or chronic. An original questionnaire was developed for this research, which consisted of over 200 items on 11 pages. The final questionnaire was mailed during the fall of 2001 to a random sample of 1,000 Dunn County residents. A total of 296 deliverable surveys were returned for a response rate of 32%. In Dunn County 24% of respondents indicated poor or fair health for themselves and 18% for their families. Compared to national statistics, the Dunn County results suggest higher percentages of people perceiving their health to be poor or fair. Four percent of the respondents reported no health insurance and 4% reported using Medicaid insurance. Twenty-one percent of the households received all of their medical and dental services outside Dunn County. Those receiving their medical services from “within and outside the county” were less likely to be restricted by insurance, and limited by payment options. Families receiving dental services both within and outside the county were more likely to state that availability of services limits their use. The medical facility most typically frequented by Dunn County families using physical healthcare services within the county was Red Cedar Clinic (74%). The type of medical care most frequently used was the doctor’s office (88%) followed by urgent care (4%). Top performance areas of the clinic or hospital mainly visited by respondents and their families were: a pleasant atmosphere (92%), friendly and warm staff (90%), and explaining medical procedures and treatments (86%). Lowest performance areas were: specialized medical equipment (60%), phone calls returned quickly (66%), and offers a variety of specialists (66%). In the past 12 months, 39% of the households used optometry, 19% used physical therapy, 9% used the Dunn County Health Department, and 6% used sports medicine. When asked about prescribed medical treatments, 71% of households “always complied” and 26% “complied often.” The top two reasons for not following prescribed medical treatments were cost (14%) and disagreement with the prescribed medical treatment (10%). The following dental services were used by households in the past 12 months: 93% used routine check-ups/cleanings, 41% used on-going treatment, 17% used emergency care, and 10% used orthodontics. Factors considered most important when selecting a dentist were effective treatments (90%), well-trained staff (88%), and attentive staff (86%). Least important selection factors were cost (39%), specialized dental equipment (48%), and facility location (49%). Top reasons for not visiting the dentist in the past year were “limited or no” dental insurance (11%), cost (11%), and “no reason” (7%). Seniors (65+), households earning $40,000 or less, and individuals in poor or fair health were less likely to visit a dentist due to cost.