GERODONTOLOGY
Table 1. Survey answer count and results of analysis
Table 1 - Survey answer count and results of analysis
Survey ques on
Descrip ve Sta s cs
Pearson Chi-Square
>10 teeth
<=10 teeth
Asymp. Sig.
N pos. response N pos. response Value df
(2-sided)
Survey answer
How oen do you see a denst?
twice a year or more
only when absolutely necessary,
almost never
7.156
1
0.007
36
11 10.023
1
0.002
19
37
24
7.760
1
0.005
51
19
35
6
4.072
1
0.044
54
6
37
15 10.712
1
0.001
54
54
6
25
37
37
11 5.010
1 20.445
1
1
0.025
0.000
use daily, one or more glasses
45
9
36
1
4.377
1
0.036
brush and floss twice a day
54
23
33
4
8.886
1
0.003
Have you ever gone for five years or more without seeing a denst?
Yes
53
25
36
53
3
54
7
Describe your employment
I am employed full me and have
been for most of my life
Describe any habits that you may have
smoke cigarees
have used methamphetamines or
cocaine
grind my teeth at night
Describe your alcohol use
Describe your home care habits
Table 2. Descriptive statistics and analysis
Table 2 – Descrip ve sta s cs and analysis
USA born
Survey ques on
My teeth are ________ to
me.
pos.
response
Non-USA born
pos.
N
response
Value
df
Asymp.
Sig. (2sided)
Survey answer
N
- essen al
- somewhat
important
82
55
23
10
4.240
1
.039
80
2
20
3
4.454
1
.035
“Age” and “Income in the 1970’s.” All other variables
were nominal, so the chi-square test provided
analysis of group differences. To avoid the possibility
of age differences between groups confounding the
results, survey results from patients under 45 years
old were eliminated from the analysis. Subsequently
performed chi-squared analysis showed age to be
statistically similar between groups.
More patients in the <=10 group currently
smoke and have a history of cocaine or
methamphetamine use. This group was also
significantly more likely to have gone 5 or more
years without going to a dentist and to say that
they only went to the dentist “when absolutely
necessary, almost never” (Table 1).
Patients in the >10 group indicated more often
that they had been employed full time for most
of their lives. Brushing and Flossing twice per
day was more common within this group, as well
as self-reported bruxism. They were more likely
to indicate that they go to the dentist “twice a
year or more” and consume alcohol daily.
126
Pearson Chi-Square
Descrip ve Sta s cs
In addition to comparing groups based upon
their level of edentulism, the survey responses
from patients born in the United States were
compared to those from patients born outside
the United States. Statistical analysis was done
on each of the survey variables as described
previously. Both groups were equally likely to
choose “very important” to describe how they
feel about their teeth. Patients born within
the United States more often stated that their
teeth are “essential” to them.
Collectively,
patients born in other countries were more
likely to choose the “somewhat important”
option (Table 2).
The next analysis focused on the differences
between people born in California and outside
California. The data show that patients born
outside of California were significantly more
likely to say they “rarely, if ever” use alcohol. In
addition, this group was more likely to indicate
they go to the dentist once per year than the
California.
STOMA.EDUJ (2014) 1 (2)