RT  - Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry
ID  - 10.17796/jcpd.33.4.0342t05597v4828p
T1  - Effect of a Financial Incentive on Returning for Post-Operative Care Following General Anesthesia
A1  - Christina L Powers
A1  - Kavita R Mathu-Muju
A1  - Heather M Bush
K1  - hospital dentistry/general anesthesia
K1  - early childhood caries
K1  - health promotion/health services
YR  - 2009
SP  - 347
AB  - <p>The aim of this study was to examine whether the use of a ten dollar financial incentive improved parental compliance in returning for their child's post-operative care appointment following dental treatment under general anesthesia at the University of Kentucky Pediatric Dentistry residency program.<strong>Study Design:</strong> Parents/guardians of 69 children scheduled for dental treatment carried out under general anesthesia at the University of Kentucky Pediatric Dentistry residency program from Oct 2007 to March 2008 were offered a $10 incentive if they returned for their one week post-operative care appointment. All subjects who returned received a $10 incentive by mail. A control consisting of 100 patients treated at the University of Kentucky Pediatric Dentistry residency program from October 2006 to April 2007 was used to determine historical return rates for post-operative care after dental treatment under general anesthesia.<strong>Results:</strong> Sixty-six percent (66%) of the control group returned for their post-operative care appointment. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the incentive group returned for their post-operative care appointment.<strong>Conclusion:</strong> Offering a $10 incentive did not increase the return rate for post-operative care following dental treatment under general anesthesia in a small study population.</p>