Comparison of utilization of dental care services among Chinese- and Russian-speaking immigrant elders.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to identify factors predictive of use of dental services among Chinese- and Russian-speaking immigrant elders.


METHODS
The data for this analysis were collected from the 1997 survey "Assessing public health and health care needs of Russian-speaking elderly immigrants." A similar survey was replicated among Chinese-speaking elderly immigrants in 2000. Community-based samples of 300 Russian elders and 177 Chinese elders were recruited for the study.


RESULTS
Chinese elders used dental care services at lower rates than Russian elders. Education, length of stay in the U.S., social support, and smoking behavior were significant predictors for the use of dental services among Chinese. However, among Russian elders, age, income, and denture use predicted utilization of dental services.


CONCLUSIONS
Although Chinese- and Russian-speaking elders have similar immigrant experiences and share the same geographic location and urban setting, the two groups have different patterns of dental service use. These differences may be due to differences in socio-demographic characteristics, values, attitudes and knowledge of oral health and dental care, and unique cultural backgrounds.
Wu
Bei
B
Center on Aging and Department of Community Medicine, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 9127, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA. bwu@hsc.wvu.edu
Tran
Thanh V
TV
Khatutsky
Galina
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001900:Boston; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007347:Insurance, Dental; D007802:Language; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012426:Russia / Q000208:ethnology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires