Community-Based Research as a Tool to Address Oral Health Disparities

Introduction: Several publications have pointed out that there is a need to address the fact that untreated caries is higher in Latinos and that the reasons for this disparity need to be understood and addressed.

Objective: The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the dental perceptions, needs and assets of a community.

Methods: A Latino community organization and researchers collaborated to conduct focus groups, key informant interviews, and to train interviewers. Core guiding questions were developed, tested, and refined with a random sample of participants. Several tools were developed to guide different key informant interviews. A single tool was developed for focus groups; questions inquired about oral health concerns, access to care, the two most important issues that must be addressed to improve oral health in their community, beliefs and knowledge of causes of dental problems and reasons preventing the community from improving oral health. The interviews were recorded and transcribed. Codification of answers was performed. Results were analyzed using content analysis methodology in which the frequency of answers was tabulated and assessed. The results were analyzed jointly by community members and researchers.

Results: 55 adults ages 18 to 63 participated in the focus groups. 10 key informant interviews were conducted. Results showed that the community's perceived most pressing needs, were: Need for information regarding insurance and/or access to insurance at affordable rates; Need for providers that offered linguistically and culturally appropriate services; Need for services at moderate costs/affordable rates; Need for educational materials; Need for strategies that improve access to care; and, Need for culturally appropriate materials.

Conclusion: The information obtained indicated there was great need for information and education; it also guided the development of a community action plan that included the development of a culturally appropriate oral health educational program.