Factors related to oral healthcare utilisation by individuals 45 and older who live in the community: longitudinal National data from the health, aging, and retirement in Thailand project, 2015–2022

Abstract

Background: Few studies have longitudinally assessed the prevalence and factors associated with oral healthcare utilisation (OCU) in older adults. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with OCU based on 4-wave national longitudinal data from Thailand. Methods: Analysis was done on four waves of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Thailand (HART) investigations carried out in 2015, 2017, 2020, and 2022 (analytical baseline sample N = 2775). The number of past 12 months of oral healthcare visits was assessed by self-report. Using the panel data structure of four study waves, the impact of time-dependent regressors on healthcare utilization was estimated using conditional fixed effects (FE) logistic regressions. We used the Andersen model as the theoretical foundation. Results: The prevalence of OCU in the past 12 months at baseline assessment was 7.4%. Regressions showed the importance of need factors (poor self-rated physical health, loneliness, number of chronic conditions, weight loss, meal skipping and wearing dentures), predisposing characteristics (decreasing age), and enabling and disabling resources (private health insurance, Civil Servants Medical Benefit Scheme, Social Security Scheme, or Other Scheme, transitioning to live alone, higher qualify of life or happiness and higher depressive symptoms) in relation to OCU. Conclusions: This longitudinal study improves our knowledge of the factors influencing middle-aged and older individuals’ OCU in Thailand.