TY - JOUR

T1 - Direct access

T2 - lessons learnt from the Netherlands

AU - Northcott, A

AU - Brocklehurst, P

AU - Jerković-Ćosić, K

AU - Reinders, J J

AU - McDermott, I

AU - Tickle, M

PY - 2013/12

Y1 - 2013/12

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To use a qualitative approach to examine the perceptions of policy makers, general dental practitioners, dental hygienists, dental students and dental hygiene students in the Netherlands following the introduction of a direct access policy in 2006.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were undertaken with a variety of policy makers and clinicians in the Netherlands. These were recorded and transcribed verbatim into MS Word documents. The transcripts were line numbered and subjected to thematic analysis to develop a coding frame using NVivo.RESULTS: Four main themes are reported, which represent a subset of a policy analysis of direct access in the Netherlands. These were entitled: 'The narrative of implementation', 'Working models of direct access', 'Relationship between old- and new-style hygienists' and 'Public attitudes'.CONCLUSIONS: Working relationships within integrated practices in the Netherlands are positive, but attitudes towards independent practice are mixed. Good examples of collaborative working across practices were observed, but relationships between the professional bodies remain difficult seven years on since the introduction of the policy.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To use a qualitative approach to examine the perceptions of policy makers, general dental practitioners, dental hygienists, dental students and dental hygiene students in the Netherlands following the introduction of a direct access policy in 2006.METHODS: Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were undertaken with a variety of policy makers and clinicians in the Netherlands. These were recorded and transcribed verbatim into MS Word documents. The transcripts were line numbered and subjected to thematic analysis to develop a coding frame using NVivo.RESULTS: Four main themes are reported, which represent a subset of a policy analysis of direct access in the Netherlands. These were entitled: 'The narrative of implementation', 'Working models of direct access', 'Relationship between old- and new-style hygienists' and 'Public attitudes'.CONCLUSIONS: Working relationships within integrated practices in the Netherlands are positive, but attitudes towards independent practice are mixed. Good examples of collaborative working across practices were observed, but relationships between the professional bodies remain difficult seven years on since the introduction of the policy.

KW - Attitude of Health Personnel

KW - Attitude to Health

KW - Delivery of Health Care

KW - Dental Care

KW - Dental Hygienists

KW - Dentists

KW - Great Britain

KW - Health Services Accessibility

KW - Humans

KW - Netherlands

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.1193

DO - 10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.1193

M3 - Article

C2 - 24357763

VL - 215

SP - 607

EP - 610

JO - British Dental Journal

JF - British Dental Journal

SN - 1476-5373

IS - 12

ER -