December 2015

Volume 32, Issue 4

Dental utilization disparities in a Jewish context: reasons and potential solutions

Authors: D.H. Rosmarin M. Korbman S. Pirutinsky Z. Lazarus
doi: 10.1922/CDH_3613Lazarus05

Abstract

Demographic discrepancies in dental healthcare utilization and access to care have historically been studied and attributed to such factors as socioeconomic status, race, and ethnicity. Such potential discrepancies and contributing factors amongst the Jewish population have been little explore. Objective: To examine the frequency of dental visits among Jewish subgroups and explored possible explanatory factors for differences in dental healthcare utilization, such as financial constraints, dental anxiety, religious perspectives on health, lack of perceived need, poor accessibility, and scheduling conflicts. Basic research design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: A religiously diverse non-clinical sample of 169 Jews completed measures on demographics, dental visit frequency, dental anxiety, and general religiousness. Results: On average, Orthodox Jews visit the dentist less often than non-Orthodox Jews (OR=0.43) and Ultra-Orthodox Jews markedly less (OR=0.23). Moreover, differences between these groups in dental visits were largely mediated by differences in dental anxiety, poor accessibility, lack of perceived need and scheduling conflicts. Conclusion: These results identify a population that is at risk for poor oral health and suggests possible preventive and corrective interventions. Key words: utilization of care, social support, community dentistry, culture, Jewish, USA

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Other articles in this issue

Article Pages Access
Editorial - Local Dental Networks: Trendy or Transformational? 194-195 Download
The feasibility of using an alcohol screening tool in a UK dental setting to identify patients’ alcohol consumption 196-198 Download
Long term evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of community milk fluoridation in Bulgaria 199-203 Download
Is the value of oral health related to culture and environment, or function and aesthetics? 204-208 Download
Time trends and determinants of acute odontogenic maxillofacial infections in Lithuania: a retrospective national 2009-2013 treatment data audit 209-215 Download
Patient safety in domiciliary dental care for elderly nursing home residents in Sweden 216-220 Download
Dental anxiety and oral health in 15-year-olds: a repeated cross-sectional study over 30 years 221-225 Download
Development and evaluation of a Dental Patient Feedback on Consultation skills (DPFC) measure to enhance communication 226-230 Download
Listening to older adults: community consultation on a new dental service 231-236 Download
A retrospective audit of population service access trends for cleft lip and cleft palate patients 237-240 Download
Perceived mental stress in relation to oral health over time in middle-aged Swedish women 241-246 Download
Dental utilization disparities in a Jewish context: reasons and potential solutions 247-251 Download
Caregiver financial distress, depressive symptoms and limited social capital as barriers to children’s dental care in a midwestern county in the United States 252-256 Download

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