A community based programme to improve access to dental services for drug users

Charnock, Simon J.; Owen, Sandra L.; Brookes, Vanita; Williams, M. A.

doi:10.1038/sj.bdj.4811193

Cited by 31 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…The high proportion of participants reporting a 'current desire for help' for dental problems is consistent with the high rates of dental caries and other oral health complications among opioid-dependent people [22]. Treatment services should be encouraged to address this problem by linking patients to local dentists [23]. Furthermore, other health professionals may be used to raise awareness of dental health and oral hygiene.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Patients' help‐seeking behaviours for health problems associated with methadone and buprenorphine treatment

Winstock

Lea

Sheridan

2008

Drug and Alcohol Review

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Patients' help‐seeking behaviours for health problems associated with methadone and buprenorphine treatment

Winstock

Lea

Sheridan

2008

Drug and Alcohol Review

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“…This could lead to access to dental services on an equitable basis and more open communication between dentist and patient. Also, to develop adequate strategies to prevent and manage dental diseases for this population group should be challenge for public health professionals [7,23]. …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The oral health of heroin drug users: case study in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Supic¹,

Petrovic

Milićević³

et al. 2013

BMC Public Health

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BackgroundInjection drug use is a major public health problem. Oral health problems and the appearance of dental disease among injection drug users (IDUs) are caused by their lifestyle. The aim of the present study was to examine the relations between socioeconomic factors, drug use, and oral hygiene habits on the oral health of heroin drug users.MethodsA cross-sectional survey on oral health was carried out as part of UNICEF’s research on the biological and behaviours survey among injection drug users in Sarajevo, Banja Luka and Zenica in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A sample of 519 IDUs participated in the survey. Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS) was used to obtain the sample. The data were obtained through face–to–face interviews using a structured questionnaire related to socio-demographic characteristics, duration of drug injection, frequency of drug injection in the last month and oral health.ResultsOlder participants (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.02 -1.10), part–time employment (OR = 3.57; 95% CI = 1.02 - 12.20) and unemployment (OR = 3.23; 95% CI = 1.23 - 8.33) in comparison to full-time employment as the referent category, and longer duration of drug injection (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.003 - 1.12) were predictors of bad oral health. A higher level of education (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.39 - 0.79), more frequent tooth brushing (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.49 - 0.71), and regular dental checkups (OR = 3.30; 95% CI = 1.42 - 7.67) were predictors of good oral health.ConclusionsSocioeconomic characteristics of IDUs as well as their lifestyles may contribute to oral health problems. Heroin drug users have specific dental needs, and programmes to improve their oral health should be an integral part of strategies to prevent addictions including treatments and harm reduction programmes.

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“…For example, Charnock and colleagues in 2004 explored dental attendance of drug users and found that while the majority of them reported problems with their teeth, 25% had never visited a dentist and almost half of them did only when in pain [12]. Even though underutilization of dental services can be influenced by various factors such as affordability, availability, accessibility and acceptability [13], stigma remains a barrier to accessing and utilizing care by marginalized groups [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigma of addiction and mental illness in healthcare: The case of patients’ experiences in dental settings

2017

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ObjectiveTo explore the ways in which stigma is experienced in healthcare and dental settings by patients with a history of addiction and mental illness.MethodsAudio-recorded, semi-structured interviews with a purposefully selected convenience sample of residents from two community treatment centres in Vancouver, Canada were conducted. The interview guide contained questions about experiences while seeking health and dental care and was based on an existing framework of labeling, stereotyping, exclusion, discrimination, and power imbalance. Interviews were transcribed verbatim for coding and thematic analysis.ResultsTwenty-five participants between 23 and 67 years of age were interviewed; 17 were males. Most had a self-reported history of depression combined with use of alcohol and crack-cocaine; most of them only sought dental care for emergency purposes. Textual analysis of more than 300 pages of transcribed interviews revealed that participants perceived stigma when they were negatively stereotyped as ‘unworthy’, labeled as ‘different’, excluded from the decision-making process, discriminated against, ‘treated unfairly’, and felt powerless when interacting in the heath and dental care systems. Conversely, positive experiences were characterized by empathy, reassurance and good communication, which were empowering for patients.ConclusionsWhen associated with stigma, mental illness and addictions have negative implications for accessing health and dental care. From our participants’ perspectives, it seems that the lack of understanding about their life conditions by the healthcare professionals was the origin of stigma. We suggest that an increased social awareness of these health issues be enhanced among current and future health and dental care professionals to help improve care experiences for this marginalized population.

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A community based programme to improve access to dental services for drug users

Cited by 31 publications

References 8 publications

Patients' help‐seeking behaviours for health problems associated with methadone and buprenorphine treatment

Patients' help‐seeking behaviours for health problems associated with methadone and buprenorphine treatment

The oral health of heroin drug users: case study in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Stigma of addiction and mental illness in healthcare: The case of patients’ experiences in dental settings

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