New Public Health Dentistry Study Results from National University Described (A Mixed Methods Study Reviewing Consumer Experiences for Oral Health Treatment In Medicaid-eligible Children In Florida)

2021 JUN 28 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on Dentistry - Public Health Dentistry have been published. According to news reporting originating in San Diego, California, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Oral health is essential to a person’s overall health, well-being, and dignity; unfortunately, dental caries, which can cause pain and difficulty eating, affect approximately 50 percent of children between 6 and 8 years old. This is in part because Medicaid-eligible children face numerous obstacles obtaining dental care.”

Financial support for this research came from Florida Institute for Health Innovation.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from National University, “To date, there are 74 million Americans who do not have dental coverage or access to dental services, which is strongly associated with race, class, gender, and ethnicity. The objective of this research was to identify barriers to accessing and utilizing children’s Medicaid oral health care and services, to evaluate care delivery and quality, and to assist in establishing a more consumer-driven approach. A mixed methods study was conducted throughout the state of Florida, using qualitative and quantitative data collection to seek answers to these questions. There were 422 surveys and 39 interviews distributed to Medicaid-eligible families and individuals across the state; data collection focused on experiences with oral health care, gaps in current access to Medicaid dental care, and concerns when utilizing care. Our study shows the majority of barriers parents face when accessing Medicaid oral health care are due to logistical access issues, such as cost, appointment wait-times, and confusion surrounding which dental providers accept specific insurance plans. The findings also highlight how location, race, language, and ethnicity impact families who lack preventive dental health services access and how, in turn, families view their own access to dental services.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Ultimately, there exists an avenue to implement programs and policies that address existing disparities in oral health to improve health outcomes by increasing access to care and reducing cultural and socioeconomic barriers.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: A Mixed Methods Study Reviewing Consumer Experiences for Oral Health Treatment In Medicaid-eligible Children In Florida. Journal of Public Health Dentistry, 2021. Journal of Public Health Dentistry can be contacted at: Wiley, 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA. (Wiley-Blackwell - http://www.wiley.com/; Journal of Public Health Dentistry - http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1752-7325)

Our news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Tara Rava Zolnikov, National University, Dept. of Community Health, San Diego, CA, United States. Additional authors for this research include Roderick King, Kristin Garces, Azam Masood, Katelyn McGuigan and Mary Robbins.

The direct object identifier (DOI) for that additional information is: https://doi.org/10.1111/jphd.12460. This DOI is a link to an online electronic document that is either free or for purchase, and can be your direct source for a journal article and its citation.

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