Risk indicators of dental caries among refugee patients attending a public dental service in Victoria

Marwaha, P; Ghanim, Aghareed; Shankumar, Ramini

doi:10.1111/adj.12873

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 28 publications

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“…Notably, only a very small proportion of refugees (about 9%) used prophylactic and preventive services. These identified patterns were consistent with previous studies which found a low use of preventive services [ 9 , 30 ], high use of oral surgery and endodontic services [ 12 ], and a high proportion of those seeking emergency dental care [ 3 ] among refugee populations. Refugees tend to use dental services only when in severe pain or when self-treatments do not work [ 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Patterns and predictors of public dental service utilisation among refugees in Victoria, Australia: a latent profile and multilevel analysis

et al. 2023

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Background The purpose of the study was to explore, analyse, and describe the patterns of public dental service utilisation among the refugee populations in Victoria, Australia, and determine their predictors at the individual and contextual levels. Methods Data on the refugees who attended Victorian public dental services between July 2016 to June 2020 was gathered from the Dental Health Program dataset. Latent profile analysis was used to identify discrete groups among the refugee clientele with similar mean utilisation patterns across six indicator variables describing the attributes of dental services received and the site of care provision, over the study period. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the individual and contextual level correlates of the identified utilisation patterns. Results Six distinct profiles of public dental service utilisation were identified among the study population (n = 25,542). The largest group comprised refugees predominantly using restorative services under general course of care (38.10%), followed by extraction services under emergency course of care (23.50%). Only a small proportion were estimated as having a higher mean utilisation of preventive services under general course of care (9.10%). Multilevel analysis revealed that the following variables had a significant association with refugee utilisation pattern: at the individual-level – demographic and ethnic attributes including age, gender, region of birth, preferred language for communication, use of language interpreter services, and type of eligibility card; at the contextual-level – characteristics of refugees’ neighbourhood of residence including urbanicity, socioeconomic disadvantage, delivery of Refugee Health Program at the community health centres, and spatial accessibility to public dental services via driving and public transit modes of travel. Conclusions The study represents a significant step towards the development of an evidence-based knowledge around public dental service utilisation among Victorian refugees. Overall, the study findings reiterate the critical need for targeted strategies to promote the importance of routine dental visits, oral disease prevention, and timely intervention among refugee groups.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Patterns and predictors of public dental service utilisation among refugees in Victoria, Australia: a latent profile and multilevel analysis

et al. 2023

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‘The Letter Says I May or May Not Be Eligible… It Is a Big Doubt and Frustrating:’ A Qualitative Study on Barriers and Facilitators to Children's Oral Healthcare From the Perspective of Karen Refugee Parents in Victoria

Balla,

Tadakamadla,

Tadakamadla

2024

Health Expectations

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BackgroundAustralia has a longstanding tradition of resettling refugees and individuals in humanitarian need. Among these, the Karen community from Southeast Asia is rapidly growing in Australia. The absence of data on the barriers they face in accessing dental services is concerning. This study explores the barriers and facilitators Karen refugees encounter when seeking oral healthcare for their children in Australia, aiming to understand their experiences.MethodsUsing a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach, we conducted semi‐structured interviews with 23 parents (17 females and 6 males) who had been in Australia for 1–17 years. Each interview, lasting between 35 and 60 min, was audio‐recorded and transcribed verbatim. The transcripts were thematically analysed through an inductive, data‐driven approach, focusing on open coding and participant‐based meanings.FindingsNine main themes were identified. At the individual level, cultural practices, parental behaviours and perceptions were the primary barriers. At the organisational level, long waiting lists in the public dental system were significant barriers. Additionally, a lack of knowledge about financial benefits and government support for children's dental care deterred refugees from seeking dental services. The results also highlighted the strengths of support networks, free dental care for children and school‐based dental care programmes. Parents reported experiences of inadequate oral healthcare, citing issues such as insufficient cultural sensitivity training among dental service providers, interpreter problems and shortages. These experiences revealed gaps in the provision of oral healthcare services.ConclusionWhen designing tailored oral health promotion programs, all stakeholders must consider the lived experiences of refugees as valuable sources of information.Patient or Public ContributionThe authors thank the parents and carers from the Karen refugee community for sharing their experiences with the oral healthcare of their children. Recruitment was facilitated by the Karen Organisation of Bendigo and Bendigo Community Health Services. An interpreter from the Karen refugee community assisted in all the interviews.

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Patterns and predictors of public dental service utilisation among refugees in Victoria, Australia: A latent profile and multilevel analysis

Veginadu

Masood

Gussy

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background The purpose of the study was to explore, analyse, and describe the patterns of public dental services utilisation among the refugee populations in Victoria, Australia, and determine their predictors at the individual and contextual levels. Methods Data on the refugees who attended Victorian public dental services between July 2016 to June 2020 was gathered from the Dental Health Program dataset. Latent profile analysis was used to identify discrete groups among the refugee clientele with similar mean utilisation patterns across six indicator variables describing the attributes of dental services received and the site of care provision, over the study period. Multilevel multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the individual and contextual level correlates of the identified utilisation patterns. Results Six distinct profiles of public dental service utilisation were identified among the study population (n = 25542). The largest group comprised refugees predominantly using restorative services under general course of care (38.10%), followed by extraction services under emergency course of care (23.50%). Only a small proportion were estimated as having a higher mean utilisation of preventive services under general course of care (9.10%). Multilevel analysis revealed that the following variables had a significant association with refugee utilisation pattern: at the individual-level – demographic and ethnic attributes including age, gender, region of birth, preferred language for communication, use of language interpreter services, and type of eligibility card; at the contextual-level – characteristics of refugees’ area of residence including urbanicity, area-based socioeconomic disadvantage, delivery of Refugee Health Program at the community health centres, and spatial accessibility to public dental services via driving and public transit modes of travel. Conclusions The study represents a significant step towards the development of an evidence-based knowledge around public dental service utilisation among Victorian refugees. Overall, the study findings reiterate the critical need for targeted strategies to promote the importance of routine dental visits, oral disease prevention, and timely intervention among refugee groups.

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Risk indicators of dental caries among refugee patients attending a public dental service in Victoria

Cited by 4 publications

References 28 publications

Patterns and predictors of public dental service utilisation among refugees in Victoria, Australia: a latent profile and multilevel analysis

Patterns and predictors of public dental service utilisation among refugees in Victoria, Australia: a latent profile and multilevel analysis

‘The Letter Says I May or May Not Be Eligible… It Is a Big Doubt and Frustrating:’ A Qualitative Study on Barriers and Facilitators to Children's Oral Healthcare From the Perspective of Karen Refugee Parents in Victoria

Patterns and predictors of public dental service utilisation among refugees in Victoria, Australia: A latent profile and multilevel analysis

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