title: Access to oral health care and self-reported health status among low-income adults living with HIV/AIDS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We identified factors associated with improved self-reported health status in a sample of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) following enrollment in oral health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from 1,499 enrollees in the Health Resources and Services Administration HIV/AIDS Bureau's Special Projects of National Significance Innovations in Oral Health Care Initiative. Data were gathered from 2007-2010 through in-person interviews at 14 sites; self-reported health status was measured using the SF-8™ Health Survey's physical and mental health summary scores. Utilization records of oral health-care services provided to enrollees were also obtained. Data were analyzed using general estimating equation linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between baseline and follow-up, we found that physical health status improved marginally while mental health status improved to a greater degree. For change in physical health status, a decrease in oral health problems and lack of health insurance were significantly associated with improved health status. Improved mental health status was associated with a decrease in oral health problems at the last available visit and no pain or distress in one's teeth or gums at the last available visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For low-income PLWHA, engagement in a program to increase access to oral health care was associated with improvement in overall well-being as measured by change in the SF-8 Health Survey. These results contribute to the knowledge base about using the SF-8 to assess the impact of clinical interventions. For public health practitioners working with PLWHA, findings suggest that access to oral health care can help promote well-being for this vulnerable population.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA 02215, USA. sbachman@bu.edu
authors.forename: Sara S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Bachman
authors.forename: Angela W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Amarachi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Umez-Eronini
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017742:Dental Care for Chronically Ill / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult