Oral health and access to dental care: a qualitative exploration in rural Quebec.
BACKGROUND
We sought to explore how rural residents perceive their oral health and their access to dental care.


METHODS
We conducted a qualitative research study in rural Quebec. We used purposeful sampling to recruit study participants. A trained interviewer conducted audio-recorded, semistructured interviews until saturation was reached. We conducted thematic analysis to identify themes. This included interview debriefing, transcript coding, data display and interpretation.


RESULTS
Saturation was reached after 15 interviews. Five main themes emerged from the interviews: rural idyll, perceived oral health, access to oral health care, cues to action and access to dental information. Most participants noted that they were satisfied with the rural lifestyle, and that rurality per se was not a threat to their oral health. However, they criticized the limited access to dental care in rural communities and voiced concerns about the impact on their oral health. Participants noted that motivation to seek dental care came mainly from family and friends rather than from dental care professionals. They highlighted the need for better education about oral health in rural communities.


CONCLUSIONS
Residents' satisfaction with the rural lifestyle may be affected by unsatisfactory oral health care. Health care providers in rural communities should be engaged in tailoring strategies to improve access to oral health care.
Faculté de médecine dentaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Que.
Elham
E
Emami
Centre de santé et de services sociaux du Pontiac, Shawville, Que.
John
J
Wootton
Institut national de santé publique du Québec, Montréal, Que.
Chantal
C
Galarneau
Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montréal, Que.
Christophe
C
Bedos
D000328:Adult; D003752:Dental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult