RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of health insurance and race on prescription medication use and expense. METHODS: An observational, non-experimental design was used. Multivariable regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the independent effects of health insurance status and race on prescription medication use and expense while controlling for sociodemographic, geographic, and health status characteristics. The sample consisted of 19,035 participants in the 1996 through 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. FINDINGS: European Americans spent about $300 to $400 more and used three to four more prescriptions annually compared to other racial groups. Prescription medication expenses increased as time spent uninsured increased. Participants with part-year coverage filled four fewer prescriptions than those with full-year health insurance coverage. Participants with private coverage spent less on prescription medications compared to those with public and those with dual public and private coverage ($1,194 vs. $1,931 and $2,076, respectively; p < or = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Significant racial and health insurance status disparities in prescription medication use and expenses exist after controlling for sociodemographic, geographic, and health status characteristics.
Asunto(s)
Negro o Afroamericano/estadística & datos numéricos , Prescripciones de Medicamentos/estadística & datos numéricos , Hispánicos o Latinos/estadística & datos numéricos , Cobertura del Seguro/organización & administración , Seguro de Salud/organización & administración , Población Blanca/estadística & datos numéricos , Adulto , Femenino , Encuestas de Atención de la Salud , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud , Disparidades en el Estado de Salud , Disparidades en Atención de Salud/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Pacientes no Asegurados/etnología , Pacientes no Asegurados/estadística & datos numéricos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Análisis Multivariante , Análisis de Regresión , Factores Socioeconómicos , Estados UnidosRESUMEN
A dire need for additional dental educators is emerging. This article reflects on the heavily skewed age groups of our current dental educators and the lack of sufficient new faculty to undertake the tasks of faculty members. A literature review is presented of previous studies monitoring the current demographics of dental faculty, projected trends, and factors that influence an individual's career choices concerning dental education involvement. Both intrinsic and extrinsic factors are explored to offer potential avenues for interesting, recruiting, and retaining qualified individuals as dental faculty. The goal of this article is to stimulate thought-provoking discussions and/or solutions within academic dentistry in regard to the question: Who will be our dental school faculty in the next decade?