Characterization of the users of the Valdivia dental emergency service: A descriptive study

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the users of the Oral Emergency Primary Care Service (SAPU) of Valdivia. The specific objectives are to describe the percentage distribution of sociodemographic factors of the users and describe the users in terms of sex, age, and previous experience in care.

Materials and Methods: A descriptive observational study was conducted in the oral Primary Emergency Care Service (SAPU) of the Jorge Sabat of Valdivia Family Health Center (CESFAM) during the first semester of 2019. Permission from the Scientific Ethics Committee, Health Service, and Municipal Health Department was properly obtained. After the informed consent was signed information such as sex, city of origin, and age, from 933 patients over 18 years of age was collected from the Emergency Care Chart Form. Through a survey, their educational level, nationality, area of origin, and previous tooth extraction experience were recorded; Then it was analyzed with descriptive statistics of frequencies, except for age, where the mean was calculated.

Results: Distribution by sex 53.8% corresponded to female, and 46.2% to male. The most frequent age group was adults (56.6%), with a mean age of 42 years. 96.9% were Chilean. The urban population covered 90.8%. The city with the highest demand was Valdivia (91.1%).  37.6% had completed secondary education.   62.7% of the users had received prior emergency tooth extractions.

Conclusion: There is a predominance of the demand for care from mature adults, mostly women, of Chilean nationality, belonging to the urban population, with complete secondary education. It is recommended to perform more studies throughout the country to assess the need to redirect services, taking into account the sociodemographic characteristics of the population.