Oral health in the indigenous Sámi population in Norway – the dental health in the North study

Abstract

Objective: This study aims at presenting the feasibility of using the public oral health clinics in indigenous S ami communities, as arena for a comprehensive data collection for population-based epidemiological oral health research among adults (age, 18-75 years) in a multi-ethnic setting. Material and methods: The study design was cross-sectional. The data collection was incorporated into the clinical procedure at six public dental clinics situated in the Administrative Area for the S ami Language in Finnmark County, Northern Norway, during 2013-2014. Both clinical-and questionnairedata were collected. The quality of clinical data was thoroughly calibrated and validated. Results: Altogether, 2235 people participated in the study gave a crude response rate at 88.7%. In the final data sample (n ¼ 2034), 56.9% were female. We constructed three ethnic groups (S ami, Mixed S ami/Norwegian and Norwegian). Altogether, 67.7% reported S ami or mixed S ami ethnicity. The internal validity of the clinical data was found to be satisfactory when assessed by comprehensive quality procedure, calibration and reliability assessments. Conclusion: This study design and method assessments provide solid documentation that public dental clinics are suitable as arenas for data collection in epidemiological oral health studies in the S ami population in this region.

Periodontal health in an indigenous Sámi population in Northern Norway: a cross-sectional study

“…On the other hand, this study had a full-mouth examination protocol on PD. Brustad et al [22] concluded that the validity of measurements used in the presents study was acceptable, which is a strength of the study.…”

“…As large parts of the traditional Sámi settlement regions were included, the findings of prevalence of periodontitis in Sámi people could be regarded representative of the Sámi population living in northern Norway. This study has methodological limitations, as described in Brustad et al [22], where the external validity of the study was questioned because participants in the study were patients at the public dental care services, and not randomly chosen from the population. This may have affected the results and estimates and thus may not represent the situation for the whole population in this region.…”

“…To describe periodontal conditions in the Sámi population in Northern Norway, data from the "Dental Health in the North" study was used. This study and its methodology is described in detail in Brustad et al [22]. The study was a cross-sectional study of adults 18-75 years old in Finnmark County in Northern Norway.…”

“…The response options were 'Norwegian', 'Sámi', 'Kven' and 'other'. For a more thorough description of questions included in the questionnaire, including ethnic categorization, see Brustad et al [22]. Brustad et al describe the ethnicity as a complex phenomenon, were both the objective factors (parents and grandparents being Sámi) and the subjective feelings of belonging to the Sámi culture have to be taken into account when creating the ethnicity variable [22].…”

“…The clinical dental examination procedure and the post clinical measurements of bone level, including validity, is described in details elsewhere [22].…”