Journal of Disability and Oral Health

cover art

Cover Date:
August 2007
Print ISSN:
1470-8558
Electronic ISSN:
1754-2758
Vol:
8
Issue:
2

Barriers to oral health care access among socially vulnerable groups: a qualitative study

Objectives: To identify perceptions and underlying causes of important barriers to access for oral health care among socially vulnerable groups. Methods: In a qualitative approach, focus group discussions were organised to gather information concerning barriers to oral health care. The study was undertaken in the city of Ghent, one of the major capitals in Flanders. 150 participants with different backgrounds participated in 13 focus group discussions. Group moderators were experienced health care workers. A discussion guide based on a ‘domino’ game was developed especially for use in this study. The discussions were tape-recorded and transcribed verbatim. QSR Nudist software was used to organise the data. The health belief model was the main theoretical approach for the study. Results: From the users, the overall knowledge on preventive health care and on available dental care services and costs were limited. The importance of oral hygiene was well known but difficult to put into practice, the importance of the primary dentition was underestimated and tooth-unfriendly dietary habits were common. This was strengthened by cultural beliefs. Fear of pain and dental treatment, uncertainty about dental treatments, language barriers and out-of-pocket costs were reported. For the suppliers, the lack of information and negative experiences concerning dentists’ lack of responsiveness to patient concern were expressed. Conclusion: An important commitment, based on these results, consists of information and motivation of the target group. The framework reported in this study offers guidance for estimating barriers experienced by the target group and for evaluating the outcome of interventions to reduce these barriers.

Article Price
£15.00
Institution Article Price
£15.00
Page Start
63
Page End
69
Authors
Sara Willems, Leen De Roo, Leen Gyssels, Ruth Van Der Beken, Jacques N Vanobbergen

Articles from this issue

  • Title
  • Pg. Start
  • Pg. End

  1. Editorial - Pushing Boundaries
  2. 50
  3. 50

  1. Referral patterns and access to dental services of people affected by homelessness in Dublin, Ireland
  2. 51
  3. 56

  1. An audit of patient assessment and treatment outcomes in anxious patients referred for conscious sedation
  2. 57
  3. 62

  1. Barriers to oral health care access among socially vulnerable groups: a qualitative study
  2. 63
  3. 69

  1. Descriptive study of factors modifying the periodontal status of a population of people with a learning disability in Spain
  2. 73
  3. 80

  1. The value of training doctors in the diagnosis of oral manifestations of HIV
  2. 81
  3. 85

  1. Student evaluation of clinical outreach teaching in Community Special Care Dentistry
  2. 86
  3. 90

  1. Preaxial acrofacial dysostosis (Nager syndrome): a case report
  2. 91
  3. 94

2025 rates