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Susan M Farner, PhD and Ellie Djavid, BS. Community Health Department, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 120 Huff Hall, 1206 S Fourth Street, Champaign, IL 61820, 217-333-6876, smfarner@yahoo.com
The stated goal of Healthy People 2010 is to prevent and control oral health conditions, while improving access to related dental services. According to the publication, such oral health problems tend to be much greater for individuals with lower socioeconomic status. This study sought to add to the existing literature in this area by examining the attitudes of patients at a public health dental clinic. In order to measure their overall perception of oral health, surveys were administered to 50 patients during their visit to the dentist. The goal was to better understand why patients of lower socioeconomic status tend to have greater dental problems, lower utilization rates of facilities, and higher noncompliance rates. The study found that the primary reason given by patients attending the clinic was pain or other dental problems that obstructed their normal daily activities. In order to explain this behavior, The Health Belief Model proves useful. Low-income patients do no view seeking preventative dental care as a superior need, but one that is inferior. They typically wait to seek dental care until their condition impedes on their daily routine. Such a view combined with inadequate or nonexistent dental care facilities (perceived barriers to action) to low income patients can cause them to have low perceived susceptibility, low perceived seriousness, and a low perceived benefit in taking action towards their oral health.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Oral Health Needs, Low-Income
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.