Positive impacts of oral health services provision by a student‐led primary care clinic to an Australian rural indigenous community

March, Sandra; Mangoyana, Clare; Oakley, P; Lalloo, Ratilal; Walsh, L. J.

doi:10.1111/adj.12960

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This approach aligns undergraduate curricula with the health needs of rural communities ( 92 ). Furthermore, our study draws parallels with the positive outcomes observed in rural Australia, where a collaborative endeavor between universities and the local community established a student-led clinic service improving access to timely and less invasive care for Indigenous populations ( 93 ). These outcomes underscore the potential for technology-driven solutions to bridge healthcare gaps and optimize the delivery of care to underserved communities, including Indigenous older adults in our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

A rural teledentistry care experience: a geriatric approach to assessing oral health status and treatment needs in older adults from a Mapuche community in Chile

Beltrán,

Muñoz-Sepúlveda,

Acevedo

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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BackgroundLimited attention has been given to oral health challenges faced by older Indigenous populations, especially in rural settings, where disparities exist. This study aims to assess oral health in a rural Mapuche community in southern Chile, utilizing geriatric technology support, and exploring the connection between geriatric health and oral well-being to fill a gap in this context.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted involving 76 independent older adults from a rural Mapuche community who required dental care. Assessments were in a remote care setting gathering extensive data including comprehensive geriatric assessments, medical and dental conditions using a geriatric teledentistry platform (TEGO®). Statistical analysis involved descriptive analysis, logistic regression, and both multiple correspondence analysis and k-means cluster analysis.ResultsThe sample comprised individuals with limited formal education and a high degree of vulnerability. Geriatric assessments unveiled cognitive deterioration, frailty, depression risk, and multimorbidity. A distribution of the DMFT index, number of remaining teeth, number of occluding pairs, number of teeth with restorative needs and other relevant clinical findings was conducted based on sociodemographic, and medical-geriatric-dental characteristics, and additionally, a Multinomial Logistic Regression Analysis of Dentition Variables in Relation to Geriatric Assessments was performed. The dental burden was substantial, with an average DMFT index of 25.96 (SD 4.38), high prevalence of non-functional dentition (89.3%), periodontal disease (83%), xerostomia (63.2%) and oral mucosal lesions (31.5%). Age, lower education, depression, daily medication number and sugary consumption frequency were associated with a decreased average number of teeth (p < 0.05). Multiple correspondence analysis and k-means cluster analysis identified 4 clusters, with the edentulous and functional dentition groups being the most distinct.ConclusionThis study uncovers a substantial dental burden and intricate medical-geriatric conditions interlinked among Indigenous older adults in a rural Chilean Mapuche community. The implementation of a geriatric technological ecosystem in the community enabled the resolution of less complex oral health issues and facilitated remote consultations with specialists, reducing the necessity for travel to health centers. This underscores the need for innovative dental public health initiatives to address health disparities and improve the overall well-being of older Indigenous adults.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

A rural teledentistry care experience: a geriatric approach to assessing oral health status and treatment needs in older adults from a Mapuche community in Chile

Beltrán,

Muñoz-Sepúlveda,

Acevedo

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Gippsland PHN reports an average of 107 medical practitioners per 100 000 people (Gippsland Primary Health Network 2022), compared with the average across Victoria of 120 per 100 000 people (Australian Government Department of Health 2022), with affordable and timely access to GPs identified as a top health issue in the area (Gippsland Primary Health Network 2021b). Student-led healthcare programs offer a sustainable and collaborative alternative health service that can help support underserved populations (March et al 2023), and this study demonstrates the community appreciation of having improved, opportunistic access to simple checks for blood pressure and blood sugar levels, when other services are unavailable.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Student-led pop-up health check clinics: innovative health prevention strategy for a low socioeconomic community

Coombs

Sewell²,

Jackson

et al. 2023

Aust. J. Prim. Health

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Background To improve preventative health screening in regional Victoria, Australia, a collaborative student-led health prevention strategy was initiated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of four health check clinics using a free ‘pop-up’ format within community settings. Methods A mixed methods, explanatory sequential design was used to explore community health data and participant experiences in utilising the free health check clinics. The clinics were delivered over 6 months and located in three different communities within the regional government area. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse participant health data and a thematic analysis was utilised to determine themes from participant feedback and health outcomes. Results The clinics were attended by 188 community members, largely impacted by government lockdowns during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Health check results indicate the population is overweight and at high risk of diabetes. Participants enjoyed the free and convenient nature of the health check program and the location of the venues. Feedback from participants indicate the health education provided was useful and advocated for changes in current behaviours. Many embraced the new information and community connections and made changes to improve their future health. Others claimed to enjoy the clinic experience but reported no action from the recommendations. Conclusions Evaluation of the health check clinics indicate they had a minor, yet positive impact on the local community in increasing engagement with preventative screening strategies. COVID-19 restrictions impacted participant numbers and thus more research is needed in a time where community movement is not limited.

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Exploring the Experiences of Visiting Veterinary Service Providers in Indigenous Communities in Canada: Proposing Strategies to Support Pre-Clinical Preparation

Baker,

Wallace,

Adams

et al. 2024

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education

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Many Indigenous communities in Canada lack access to veterinary services due to geography, affordability, and acceptability. These barriers negatively affect the health of animals, communities, and human–animal relationships. Canadian veterinary colleges offer veterinary services to Indigenous communities through fourth-year veterinary student rotations. Ensuring that the students and other volunteer veterinary service providers (VSP) are adequately prepared to provide contextually and culturally appropriate care when working with Indigenous peoples has not been explicitly addressed in the literature. We explored the experiences of VSP delivering services in unfamiliar cultural and geographic settings and identified: what pre-clinic training was most helpful, common challenges experienced, and personal and professional impacts on participants. Fifty-two VSP (veterinarians, animal health technicians and veterinary students) who participated in clinical rotations offered by five Canadian veterinary colleges between 2014 and 2022 completed online surveys. Respondents shared their pre-clinic expectations, sense of preparedness to practice in a remote Indigenous community, their clinical and community experiences, and any personal and professional impacts from the experience. Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Respondents highlighted which pre-clinic training was most valuable and what they felt unprepared for. Community infrastructure and resources were concerns and many felt unprepared for the relational and communication barriers that arose. VSP were uncomfortable practicing along a spectrum of care with limited clinical resources. Many VSP identified positive personal and professional impacts. Our findings suggest that pre-clinic orientations focused on contextual care in limited resource settings could better prepare VSP to serve underserved Indigenous communities.

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Positive impacts of oral health services provision by a student‐led primary care clinic to an Australian rural indigenous community

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

A rural teledentistry care experience: a geriatric approach to assessing oral health status and treatment needs in older adults from a Mapuche community in Chile

A rural teledentistry care experience: a geriatric approach to assessing oral health status and treatment needs in older adults from a Mapuche community in Chile

Student-led pop-up health check clinics: innovative health prevention strategy for a low socioeconomic community

Exploring the Experiences of Visiting Veterinary Service Providers in Indigenous Communities in Canada: Proposing Strategies to Support Pre-Clinical Preparation

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