Population heterogeneity analysis of caries prevention service preferences among children in Anhui Province
Objective To determine the heterogeneity for caries prevention service preferences among children in Anhui Prov-ince,so as to provide reference for the promotion and popularization of caries prevention services for school-age children.Methods Based on a discrete selection experiment,a face-to-face questionnaire survey was administered using a multi-stage sampling meth-od among 785 parents with children 3-12 years of age who were hospitalized in the stomatology clinics of 7 prefectures and cities in Anhui Province from October 2021 to October 2022.A mixed Logit model was used to evaluate caries prevention service preferences for children.Results Four discrete choice experiment attributes included in the study were statistically significant for choice prefer-ence(P＜0.05).Compared with the control group,parents with a high school education or above preferred caries prevention services with 70％-＜80％preventive effectiveness,2-＜5 and＜2 km from the service point,and a high service cost(β=0.38,1.66,1.64,0.00);female parents preferred preventive services with 70％-＜80％preventive effectiveness and a high service cost(β=0.35,0.01);parents of children＜7 years of age preferred services with 70％-＜80％preventive effectiveness(β=0.75);parents of chil-dren with oral health preferred preventive services during winter and summer vacations(β=-0.28);parents of children with caries preferred preventive services with a high cost per denticle(β=0.00)(P＜0.05).Conclusions Parents with different education lev-els,gender,child age,and oral health status have heterogeneity in dental caries prevention service preferences.The provision of targeted and precise services can improve the participation and coverage of caries prevention services for school-age children.
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