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Homeless adults’ access to dental services and strategies to improve their oral health: a systematic literature review
Citation
Goode, J and Hoang, H and Crocombe, L, Homeless adults' access to dental services and strategies to improve their oral health: a systematic literature review, Australian Journal of Primary Health pp. A-L. ISSN 1448-7527 (2018) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1071/PY17178
Abstract
Homeless people have poor oral health and high treatment needs, yet tend to make problem-based dental visits.
This review aimed to determine how and where homeless adults receive oral health care, the barriers that prevent homeless
adults accessing dental care and find strategies to promote oral health to homeless adults. The databases MEDLINE via
OvidSP, PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus were searched using the keywords: homeless, roofless, houseless, rough sleeper,
couch surfer, shelter, hostel, dental and oral health. The inclusion criteria were: participants over the age of 17 years, studies
written in English, based in developed countries and published after 2003. Selected articles were assessed using the
Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool and data extracted were thematically analysed. Twenty-two studies met the inclusion
criteria. Five main themes were found: how homeless people accessed dental care; factors affecting the uptake of care;
strategies used to improve access to care; the effect of non-dental staff on dental care; and challenges with providing care
to homeless people. Dental care for homeless adults was affected by numerous factors. Improving their access to dental
services requires collaboration between support service providers, dental care to be near homeless populations and
flexibility by dental services.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | homeless, oral health, dental health, access |
| Research Division: | Medical and Health Sciences |
| Research Group: | Public Health and Health Services |
| Research Field: | Public Health and Health Services not elsewhere classified |
| Objective Division: | Health |
| Objective Group: | Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) |
| Objective Field: | Dental Health |
| Author: | Goode, J (Dr Jacqueline Goode) |
| Author: | Hoang, H (Dr Ha Hoang) |
| Author: | Crocombe, L (Associate Professor Leonard Crocombe) |
| ID Code: | 127102 |
| Year Published: | 2018 |
| Deposited By: | Centre for Rural Health |
| Deposited On: | 2018-07-10 |
| Last Modified: | 2018-07-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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