Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States

Background: Oral health is important for overall health of youth, although dental service utilization is lower than national goals. The purpose of the study was to identify sociodemographic and health behavioral characteristics of youth in the United States who reported having at least one dental vi...

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Main Authors: Ilana R. A. Chertok, Nathaniel Chertok, Zelalem T. Haile, Bhakti Chavan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Pediatrics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00104/full
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author Ilana R. A. Chertok
Nathaniel Chertok
Zelalem T. Haile
Bhakti Chavan
author_facet Ilana R. A. Chertok
Nathaniel Chertok
Zelalem T. Haile
Bhakti Chavan
author_sort Ilana R. A. Chertok
collection DOAJ
description Background: Oral health is important for overall health of youth, although dental service utilization is lower than national goals. The purpose of the study was to identify sociodemographic and health behavioral characteristics of youth in the United States who reported having at least one dental visit in the past 12 months.Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to examine factors associated with dental care utilization using Andersen's theory-based Behavioral Model of Health Care Utilization.Results: Among 5,814 youth, nearly 78 percent reported visiting a dentist in the past 12 months. After adjusting for potential confounders, characteristics significantly associated with higher likelihood of dental care utilization were: predisposing factors of non-Hispanic white ethnicity and health behavior characteristics of not using tobacco, not using illegal substances, not drinking soda, and wearing a seat belt; enabling factor of speaking English well; and perceived health of not being overweight.Discussion: Use of the Healthcare Utilization Model identified significant factors classified as predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors associated with youth's utilization of dental care services. Findings from the theory-based population-based study informs healthcare providers of factors to consider when promoting dental care among youth.
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spelling doaj.art-c8c9b8b47b324a25895709c52bca58ca2022-12-22T02:18:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602018-05-01610.3389/fped.2018.00104372615Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United StatesIlana R. A. Chertok0Nathaniel Chertok1Zelalem T. Haile2Bhakti Chavan3School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences and Professions, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United StatesSchool of Dentistry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, United StatesDepartment of Social Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin, OH, United StatesDepartment of Social Medicine, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dublin, OH, United StatesBackground: Oral health is important for overall health of youth, although dental service utilization is lower than national goals. The purpose of the study was to identify sociodemographic and health behavioral characteristics of youth in the United States who reported having at least one dental visit in the past 12 months.Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) to examine factors associated with dental care utilization using Andersen's theory-based Behavioral Model of Health Care Utilization.Results: Among 5,814 youth, nearly 78 percent reported visiting a dentist in the past 12 months. After adjusting for potential confounders, characteristics significantly associated with higher likelihood of dental care utilization were: predisposing factors of non-Hispanic white ethnicity and health behavior characteristics of not using tobacco, not using illegal substances, not drinking soda, and wearing a seat belt; enabling factor of speaking English well; and perceived health of not being overweight.Discussion: Use of the Healthcare Utilization Model identified significant factors classified as predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors associated with youth's utilization of dental care services. Findings from the theory-based population-based study informs healthcare providers of factors to consider when promoting dental care among youth.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00104/fulloral healthdentistryyouthpopulation-based researchyouth risk behavior surveillance system
spellingShingle Ilana R. A. Chertok
Nathaniel Chertok
Zelalem T. Haile
Bhakti Chavan
Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States
Frontiers in Pediatrics
oral health
dentistry
youth
population-based research
youth risk behavior surveillance system
title Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States
title_full Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States
title_fullStr Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States
title_full_unstemmed Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States
title_short Association of Youth Characteristics and Recent Utilization of Dental Services in the United States
title_sort association of youth characteristics and recent utilization of dental services in the united states
topic oral health
dentistry
youth
population-based research
youth risk behavior surveillance system
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fped.2018.00104/full
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AT bhaktichavan associationofyouthcharacteristicsandrecentutilizationofdentalservicesintheunitedstates