Multicultural Issues in Oral Health

Abstract

SynopsisDemographic changes over the coming decades will heighten the challenges to the dental profession and to the nation. The expected growth in the numbers of racial and ethnic minorities, and the concomitant growth of immigrant populations are likely to lead to worsening of oral health disparities. Their consequences are becoming increasingly evident as the profession strives to improve the oral health of all Americans. The increasing diversity of the population, together with the importance of cultural beliefs and behaviors that affect health outcomes, will require ways to enhance provider-patient communications and oral health literacy. We discuss the nature and challenges presented by multicultural patient populations. One important means by which to promote oral health in diverse populations is to develop a dental workforce that is both culturally and linguistically competent, as well as one that is as culturally diverse as the American population.

Ethnic Disparities in Self-Reported Oral Health Status and Access to Care among Older Adults in NYC

“…Addressing these gaps will require investment in research, as well as training and education to improve the cultural competency of oral health providers and to expand the oral health workforce to include nondental providers and finally, a reassessment of oral healthcare financing. 4,14,27 Research is needed to elucidate the complex relationship of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and culturally influenced factors that impact the oral health and oral healthcare seeking behaviors of immigrant and minority low income groups, especially among the elderly. 28,29 Information about oral health literacy among ethnic minorities and immigrants is also lacking, and evidence supporting clinical and population-based approaches to promote oral health and prevent disease must be strengthened.…”

“…However, White respondents also had higher levels of income and education, which are associated with greater utilization of dental healthcare services and better dental health. [11][12][13][14] Among minority older adults, Chinese immigrants were more likely to report poor dental health, were less likely to report dental care utilization and dental insurance, and were less satisfied with their dental care compared to all other racial/ethnic groups. These disparities may be related, in part, to significant differences in language fluency.…”

“…14 A study of Chinese immigrants in Canada found that overwhelming strong preference of Chinese immigrants for ethnically and dialectically matched family physicians. 14 Dentistry is the least diverse of healthcare professions. 20 For older minority adults, this lack of diversity is compounded by a general shortage of skilled geriatric dental care professionals, which together may result in oral healthcare delivery systems that may not be equipped to address the needs of older disparate populations.…”

“…Greater attention is needed in increasing the diversity of the dental profession and the capacity of the dental workforce to meet the oral health needs of an increasingly diverse older population. 10,14 Disparities in oral health may also be related to attitudes and beliefs that vary by race/ethnicity and SES. A lack of perceived need for dental care is one of the strongest predictors of low dental care utilization among older adults when compared with adults under 50, and this may be particularly true for immigrants and ethnic minorities.…”

A menedékkérők mentális és fizikai egészségproblémái: gyakorlatok és ajánlások

“…Gyakori akut betegségnek számítanak a légúti betegségek (gégegyulladás, hörghurut, tüdő-gyulladás), emésztőrendszeri betegségek (hasmenés, hasfájás, székrekedés), allergiás megbetegedések, rühes-ség, tetvesség, ekcéma, hámsérülések és nőgyógyászati problémák. Gyakoriak a fog-és a periodontalis betegsé-gek is [29,30]. Fontos felhívni a fi gyelmet arra, hogy menekülteknél az anamnézisfelvétel, a fi zikai vizsgálat és a beavatkozások előhívhatnak traumatikus emlékeket, ezért a beavatkozásokat magyarázat előzze meg, a fi zikai vizsgálatot pedig a szokottnál nagyobb fi gyelmességgel és tapintattal végezzük!…”