Table 4.

Impact of Demographic Factors on Oral Care Attitudes, Behaviors, and Practices

Statements about attitudes/beliefs/practices	ASD	TD	pa	Education highb	Education lowb	p	Income highc	Income lowc	p
1. How many times has your child seen a dentist for a cleaning in the last 12 months?	2 (1, 2)	2 (1, 2)	0.08	2 (2, 2)	1 (1, 2)	0.001*	2 (2, 2)	1 (1, 2)	0.001*
2. My child is fearful of going to the dentist	6 (4, 7)	2 (1, 5)	<0.0001*	2 (2, 5)	5 (2, 7)	0.02*	2 (1, 5)	5.5 (4, 7)	0.0001*
3. Finding a dentist for my child is easy	3 (1, 6)	6 (4, 6)	0.005*	6 (3, 6)	4 (2, 5)	0.04*	6 (3, 6)	4 (2, 6)	0.09
4. Getting dental insurance for my child is easier than getting dental insurance for myself.	4 (4, 6)	5 (4, 6)	0.18	4 (4, 5)	6 (4, 7)	0.001*	4 (4, 5)	6 (4, 6)	0.024*
5. I think my family's race/ethnicity negatively influences how my child is treated at the dentist.	2 (1, 5)	2 (2, 5)	0.71	2 (1, 4)	2 (2, 5)	0.36	2 (1, 2.5)	4 (2, 5.5)	0.0004*
6. My child's food preferences make eating nonsugary foods difficult	6 (5, 7)	4 (2, 5)	0.003*	4 (4, 6)	5 (4, 6)	0.18	4 (4, 6)	5 (4, 6)	0.18

Data shown as median (interquartile range).

1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Somewhat Disagree, 4=Neutral, 5=Somewhat Agree, 6=Agree, 7=Strongly Agree.

^aWilcoxon rank sum test.

^bHigh=bachelor's degree − graduate degree/post graduate education; low=less than high school − some college/associate's degree.

^cHigh=$75,000+; low=<$75,000.

^*Indicates significant results.