Oral health and access to dental care: a qualitative investigation among older people in the community.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to explore older persons' beliefs and attitudes towards oral health and access to and use of dental care services.


BACKGROUND
As the proportion of dentate older people increases, the need and demand for dental services will rise (J Public Health Dent, 60, 2000, 276).


METHODS
Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were used for data collection.


METHODS
The study participants included 63 older people in Perth, WA.


RESULTS
Five major themes emerged from the interviews - the need for information and knowledge; accessibility of services; cost and affordability of oral care; fear and anxiety regarding dental visits and relationships with dentists. Attitudes and behaviours were slow to change in this group.


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation provided important perspectives regarding oral health and dental access for older people residing in the community and demonstrated the importance of understanding this group when considering provision and use of services.
Slack-Smith
Linda
L
School of Dentistry, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. Linda.Slack-Smith@uwa.edu.au
Lange
Andrea
A
Paley
Glenys
G
O'Grady
Martin
M
French
Davina
D
Short
Leonie
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003729:Dental Care / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D004955:Esthetics, Dental; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006267:Health Education, Dental; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010415:Pensions; D014850:Waiting Lists