Dental ambulatory care sensitive conditions by Health Area
Data table
View data tableNote
Ambulatory care sensitive conditions definitions modified from Victorian Department of Human Services, 2004. Hospital separations were classified using ICD-10-AM. Rates were age-adjusted using the Australian population as at 30 June 2001. Numbers for 2006-07 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 grouped according to Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) remoteness categories on the basis of Accessibility/Remoteness Index for Australia (ARIA+ version) score. *includes 'Very remote'.
Source
NSW Admitted Patient Data Collection and ABS population estimates (HOIST). Centre for Epidemiology and Research, NSW Department of Health.
Commentary
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 2004-05 to 2006-07, dental conditions were ranked third highest among all ACS conditions. Hospitalisation rates for these conditions ranged from 168.4 per 100,000 population in Sydney South West Area Health Service to 345.6 per 100,000 population in the Greater Western Area Health Service.
The hospitalisation rates for dental conditions were substantially higher in inner regional areas (256.5 per 100,000) and also outer regional, remote and very remote areas in NSW compared with metropolitan areas (188.6 per 100,000). 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).
For more information
Victorian Government Department of Human Services. The Victorian Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions Study, 2001-02. Melbourne: VGDHS, 2004. Available at www.dhs.vic.gov.au/health/healthstatus/acsc/finalreport.htm..
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.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australia's health 2008. Cat. no. AUS 99. Canberra: AIHW, 2008. Available at: www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10585
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: Dental Statistics and Research Unit. The National Survey of Adult Oral Health 2004-06 (State and territory reports). Dental Statistics and Research Series no. 39. Canberra: AIHW, 2008. Available at www.adelaide.edu.au/spdent/dsru/pub_frame.html
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Copyright notice
This work is copyright NSW Department of Health, 2006. It may be reproduced in whole or in part, subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Commercial usage or sale is prohibited.
Suggested citation
Population Health Division. The health of the people of New South Wales - Report of the Chief Health Officer. Sydney: NSW Department of Health. Available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/publichealth/chorep/. Accessed (insert date of access).
Produced by
Centre for Epidemiology and Research, Population Health Division, NSW Department of Health.
Last updated on 15 December 2008
