Secondary prevention of oral cancer through annual screening is an important goal to reduce disparities in late stage diagnosis and mortality. Older persons, especially those with smoking histories, are important targets for screening. Although data show that older persons in low income communities often lack regular dental care, less is known about the relationship between smoking history and dental care, or characteristics of groups most at risk for poor screening.
Data from a community survey of 576 African American women ages 45 to 95 were analyzed in order to examine the relationships between social and psychological characteristics and history of smoking and dental care. Forty-one percent of respondents had never smoked, 33% were former smokers, and 26% smoked currently. Smoking was associated with decreased likelihood of recent dental care, with 69% of nonsmokers, 60% of former smokers and 54% of current smokers seeing a dentist in the past three years (test for trend, p<.03). In multivariate models, compared to smokers with recent dental care, current and former smokers without recent dental care were significantly older and in poorer self-reported health, and were less likely to be working, attend church at least weekly, have a primary care provider, and have had breast cancer screening within the past three years. Differences suggest strategies for tailored outreach to provide oral cancer screening in low income high risk populations.
Learning Objectives: Understand characteristics of smokers among low income older African American women Understand how characteristics of smokers and dental care users are associated. Relate characteristics of at-risk populations to strategies for oral cancer screening.
Keywords: Access to Care, Smoking
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
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