Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality
Purpose: Oral health disparities related to access persist for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities compared to the general population, especially in rural areas of the United States. The objective of this study was to better understand community perspectives of oral health, how ruralit...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/20/2788 |
| _version_ | 1797573673483239424 |
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| author | Amanda J. Llaneza Alex Holt Lancer Stephens Julie Seward |
| author_facet | Amanda J. Llaneza Alex Holt Lancer Stephens Julie Seward |
| author_sort | Amanda J. Llaneza |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Oral health disparities related to access persist for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities compared to the general population, especially in rural areas of the United States. The objective of this study was to better understand community perspectives of oral health, how rurality impacts access to care, and attitudes towards the implementation of dental therapists in Oklahoma, particularly among the AI/AN population. Methods: A descriptive, observational study design was utilized. An exploratory survey was conducted online and comprised of qualitative and quantitative data. The total frequencies and percentages were evaluated for the quantitative questions. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Utilizing descriptive and qualitative research methods, the focus was to describe the experiences of the respondents and their characteristics related to oral health in Oklahoma. Results: A total of 201 responses were obtained, where 65% (n = 131) identified as an enrolled member or employee of a tribe represented in Oklahoma. Key qualitative themes included community access to care, community concerns, and community motivated solutions. Conclusions: AI/AN communities are an underserved group in healthcare. Although communities in rural areas face major barriers to oral health services, evidence-based solutions can be implemented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:13:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f770c8ee4c04c4e92f2884582dd968c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:13:21Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f770c8ee4c04c4e92f2884582dd968c2023-11-19T16:38:10ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-10-011120278810.3390/healthcare11202788Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of RuralityAmanda J. Llaneza0Alex Holt1Lancer Stephens2Julie Seward3Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, USASouthern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, USAHealth Promotion Sciences, Hudson College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USASouthern Plains Tribal Health Board, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, USAPurpose: Oral health disparities related to access persist for American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities compared to the general population, especially in rural areas of the United States. The objective of this study was to better understand community perspectives of oral health, how rurality impacts access to care, and attitudes towards the implementation of dental therapists in Oklahoma, particularly among the AI/AN population. Methods: A descriptive, observational study design was utilized. An exploratory survey was conducted online and comprised of qualitative and quantitative data. The total frequencies and percentages were evaluated for the quantitative questions. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. Utilizing descriptive and qualitative research methods, the focus was to describe the experiences of the respondents and their characteristics related to oral health in Oklahoma. Results: A total of 201 responses were obtained, where 65% (n = 131) identified as an enrolled member or employee of a tribe represented in Oklahoma. Key qualitative themes included community access to care, community concerns, and community motivated solutions. Conclusions: AI/AN communities are an underserved group in healthcare. Although communities in rural areas face major barriers to oral health services, evidence-based solutions can be implemented.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/20/2788access to oral healthcareAmerican Indian/Alaska Nativehealth disparitiesoral health preventionoral health |
| spellingShingle | Amanda J. Llaneza Alex Holt Lancer Stephens Julie Seward Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality Healthcare access to oral healthcare American Indian/Alaska Native health disparities oral health prevention oral health |
| title | Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality |
| title_full | Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality |
| title_fullStr | Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality |
| title_full_unstemmed | Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality |
| title_short | Native American Community Perspectives on Oral Health Access: Understanding the Impact of Rurality |
| title_sort | native american community perspectives on oral health access understanding the impact of rurality |
| topic | access to oral healthcare American Indian/Alaska Native health disparities oral health prevention oral health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/20/2788 |
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