Recent Findings from University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Provides New Insights into Managed Care (Caregivers’ Experiences With Oral Health Care of Foster Children In North Carolina: a Qualitative Study): Managed Care

2025 MAY 05 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- Current study results on Managed Care have been published. According to news reporting from Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “To identify the oral health needs of foster children and barriers to dental care perceived by caregivers in North Carolina. Based on a semi-structured questionnaire, interviews were completed via video conferencing platform.”

Financial supporters for this research include Department of Pediatric and Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA, Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public Health, Adams School of Dentistry.

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, “Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and descriptive thematic analysis was conducted via MAXQDA software to derive recurring themes from the data. Thirty foster parents were interviewed. Lack of comprehensive medical and dental history of the foster child was a common concern. Fifty percent reported their foster child had untreated caries upon home placement. Lack of providers accepting Medicaid, limited time in caregivers schedules, managing school absences, and lengthy travel distances were identified as barriers to care. Many caregivers reported having experienced challenges with obtaining consent for dental treatment from their child’s legal guardians. Caregivers of older teenagers shared concerns regarding orthodontic care and aging out of Medicaid benefits. The experiences and concerns of caregivers highlighted in this study present various opportunities for governmental services, foster agencies, dental providers, and educators to improve the oral health experience for foster children.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Additionally, understanding perceived barriers to care may encourage better utilization of dental Medicaid benefits.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

For more information on this research see: Caregivers’ Experiences With Oral Health Care of Foster Children In North Carolina: a Qualitative Study. Pediatric Dentistry, 2025;47(1):11-17. Pediatric Dentistry can be contacted at: Amer Acad Pediatric Dentistry, 211 E Chicago Avenue Suite 1036, Chicago, IL 60611-2616, USA.

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Martha Ann Keels, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Adams Sch Dent, Dept. of Pediatrics and Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, United States. Additional authors for this research include Rocio B. Quinonez, Michael Roberts, Paul Mihas and Elise Sarvas.

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