Appendix 1 - Survey Results

Appendix 1Survey results

1.1In order to better facilitate the involvement of a diversity of members of the public with lived experience of dental health service access and issues, an online survey was conducted.

1.2The survey asked quantitative questions, seeking to collect de-identified data on participants' oral health and its impacts, demographic information, and data on individuals' access to and use of dental services.

1.3The survey was hosted on the committee’s website and conducted from 17April2023 to 4 June 2023. The survey was circulated by members of the committee, other members of parliament, community members, dental and other organisations.

1.4The committee notes that the sample size is large, participants self-selected and that results are presented in their primary format—independent statistical analysis on the data has not been conducted.

1.5The committee recorded 17547 survey responses over 34 questions. Please note that questions 31 to 34 were administrative details such as respondents’ names and emails and have been excluded from the survey results below.

Results

Question 1: Your age

Question 2: Your gender

Question 3: Your location

Question 4: Urban/regional status

Question 5: Do you identify as any of the following?

Question 6: Is English your first language?

Question 7: Employment status

Question 8: Income bracket

Question 9: Caring status

Question 10: Do you hold a commonwealth concession card?

Question 11: Do you have private health insurance?

Question 12: Do you work in the dental care industry?

Question 13: How would you rate your oral health?

Question 14: How often do you visit the dentist?

Question 15: When did you last visit the dentist?

Question 16: Have you ever experienced dental problems or concerns that have impacted your health or quality of life?

1.6Respondents who answered ‘No’ were directed straight to question 19.

Question 17: How have these problems impacted you?

Question 18: Which of these impacts was the most significant for you?

Question 19: Have you, or someone you care for, delayed going to the dentist because of cost?

Question 20: How would you rate your current level of access to dental services?

1.7Respondents who answered ‘Excellent’ or ‘Good’ were directed straight to question 22.

Question 21: What factors impact your access to dental services?

Question 22: Did you know that some people are eligible for public, or government funded dental services in Australia?

Question 23:Have you, or people you provide care for, ever accessed public or government services in Australia?

1.8Respondents who answered ‘Yes’ were directed to the next questions and skipped question 25, and the respondents who replied ‘No’ were directed straight to question 25.

Question 24: Government funded dental services

Question 25: Government funded dental services

Question 26: How much was your most recent dental bill?

Question 27: How much would you estimate you have spent on dental services in the past five years?

Question 28: The Government should make more dental healthcare free?

Question 29: What dental services would most benefit you if they were free or subsidised?

Rankedin order of highest priority (1) to lowest priority (10)

Question 30: How would increased access to free or affordable dental services impact your life?