An exploratory pilot study to assess self-perceived changes among social assistance recipients regarding employment prospects after receiving dental treatment

Abstract

BackgroundStrengthening self-efficacy in job-seeking among individuals with dental problems has been identified as an important factor in facilitating job procurement and maintenance. There is no knowledge about whether receiving dental treatment improves someone’s self-efficacy in seeking a job. This work explores this relationship.MethodsAn exploratory pilot study of a convenience sample of 30 social assistance recipients of Ontario, Canada, was conducted using a pre- and post-dental treatment survey, which included both quantitative and qualitative components. The survey included two validated instruments Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and Job-Seeking Self-efficacy scale (JSS). Changes in scores of both scales following dental treatment were calculated. Pearson correlation was performed between OHIP-14 and JSS scores. Qualitative data were transcribed and interrelated ideas were grouped together to generate themes.ResultsMean scores for OHIP-14 (23.4 to 6.7, p < 0.001, effect size: 1.75) and median scores for JSS (4.9 to 5.5, p = 0.002, effect size: 0.40) changed significantly after receiving dental treatment. A significant negative correlation (−0.56, p = 0.001) was observed between OHIP-14 and JSS scores indicating that job-seeking self-efficacy improves with improvement in oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). Qualitative analysis reveals participants’ physical and psychosocial impacts of dental problems; barriers experienced in accessing dental care and seeking a job; and changes perceived after receiving dental care.ConclusionResults of our survey indicate that social assistance recipients experience negative impacts of dental problems and perceive improvements in OHRQoL and job-seeking self-efficacy after receiving dental treatment.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12903-015-0119-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Teaching Dental Students About Incarceration and Correctional Dentistry: Results from a National Survey

“…Dentists in one study reported that they were least comfortable treating incarcerated patients, along with patients who are homeless, use substances, or are homebound. 42 In our survey, respondents indicated a mean agreement of 51.1±24.0% when asked if their students were prepared to care for patients who are incarcerated. 11,17 Without dental care, ongoing dental problems may negatively impact previously incarcerated individuals' job seeking and psychosocial well-being.…”

“…11,17 Without dental care, ongoing dental problems may negatively impact previously incarcerated individuals' job seeking and psychosocial well-being. 42 In our survey, respondents indicated a mean agreement of 51.1±24.0% when asked if their students were prepared to care for patients who are incarcerated. Surprisingly, respondents at schools with correctional rotations or electives showed lower agreement with this statement and were less likely to agree that dental students at their schools believed incarceration to be a social determinant of health than respondents whose institutions offered only didactic education on the topic.…”

The 2021 report on oral health in America: Directions for the future of dental public health and the oral health care system

“…There is a developing literature demonstrating significant negative effects, again related to the productive capacity of individuals [10]. Whether it is engaging in paid work, the quality of the job secured, or absenteeism from work or school, there are clear signals that oral health is related to the economic wellbeing of Americans, their families, and the nation overall [13,[19][20][21][22].…”

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“…The incorporation of dental care in the program was defined due to its possible impact in overcoming barriers to the inclusion of people in the labor market, a topic still lacking sufficient evidence 5,6 . Oral health care is broader than the one proposed by the comprehensive benefit program (PIAS) for adult users of the National Integrated Health System 7 .…”