Hospital separations were classified using ICD-10-AM. Rates were age-adjusted using the Australian population as at 30 June 2001. Numbers for 2004-05 include an estimate of the small number of interstate hospitalisations, data for which were unavailable at the time of production. LL/UL 95%CI = lower and upper limits of the 95% confidence interval for the point estimate. Statistical Local Areas were grouped according to Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) Remoteness categories on the basis of Accessibility/Remoteness Index for Australia (ARIA+ version) score.
Source:
NSW Inpatient Statistics Collection and ABS population estimates (HOIST), ambulatory care sensitive hospitalisation definitions modified from Victorian Department of Human Services 2002.
Ambulatory care sensitive (ACS) conditions are those for which hospitalisation is considered potentially avoidable through preventive medical care and early disease management, usually delivered through primary health care (VGDHS, 2004). A range of dental conditions are defined as ambulatory care sensitive, including dental caries and periodontal diseases.
In NSW during the three-year period 2002-03 to 2004-05, dental conditions were ranked seventh highest among all ACS conditions. Hospitalisation rates for these conditions ranged from 141.4 per 100,000 population in Sydney South West Area Health Service to 285.9 per 100,000 population in the Greater Western Area Health Service.
The hospitalisation rates for dental conditions were substantially higher in inner and outer regional, remote and very remote areas in NSW compared with metropolitan areas. One of the strategies recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Oral Health in 2004, was to develop and implement targeted health promotion and preventive programs for specific socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, including people in rural and remote areas (NACOH, 2004).
Victorian Government Department of Human Services. The Victorian ambulatory care sensitive conditions study, 2001-02. Melbourne: VGDHS, July 2004.
National Advisory Committee on Oral Health (NACOH) to Australian Health Ministers' Conference. Healthy mouths healthy lives: Australia's national oral health plan 2004-2013 Adelaide: Government of South Australia, 2004.
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Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales -
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