TY - JOUR
T1 - Access to oral health care
T2 - The role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in addressing disparities and expanding access
AU - Jones, Emily
AU - Shi, Leiyu
AU - Hayashi, Arthur Seiji
AU - Sharma, Ravi
AU - Daly, Charles
AU - Ngo-Metzger, Quyen
PY - 2013/3
Y1 - 2013/3
N2 - Objectives. We examined utilization, unmet need, and satisfaction with oral health services among Federally Qualified Health Center patients. We examined correlates of unmet need to guide efforts to increase access to oral health services among underserved populations. Methods. Using the 2009 Health Center Patient Survey, we performed multivariate logistic regressions to examine factors associated with access to dental care at health centers, unmet need, and patient experience. Results. We found no racial or ethnic disparities in access to timely oral health care among health center patients; however, uninsured patients and those whose insurance does not provide dental coverage experienced restricted access and greater unmet need. Slightly more than half of health center patients had a dental visit in the past year, but 1 in 7 reported that their most recent visit was at least 5 years ago. Among health center patients who accessed dental care at their health center, satisfaction was high. Conclusions. These results underscore the critical role that health centers play in national efforts to improve oral health status and eliminate disparities in access to timely and appropriate dental services.
AB - Objectives. We examined utilization, unmet need, and satisfaction with oral health services among Federally Qualified Health Center patients. We examined correlates of unmet need to guide efforts to increase access to oral health services among underserved populations. Methods. Using the 2009 Health Center Patient Survey, we performed multivariate logistic regressions to examine factors associated with access to dental care at health centers, unmet need, and patient experience. Results. We found no racial or ethnic disparities in access to timely oral health care among health center patients; however, uninsured patients and those whose insurance does not provide dental coverage experienced restricted access and greater unmet need. Slightly more than half of health center patients had a dental visit in the past year, but 1 in 7 reported that their most recent visit was at least 5 years ago. Among health center patients who accessed dental care at their health center, satisfaction was high. Conclusions. These results underscore the critical role that health centers play in national efforts to improve oral health status and eliminate disparities in access to timely and appropriate dental services.
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U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300846
DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2012.300846
M3 - Article
C2 - 23327254
AN - SCOPUS:84874069169
SN - 0090-0036
VL - 103
SP - 488
EP - 493
JO - American journal of public health
JF - American journal of public health
IS - 3
ER -