title: Association Between Health-Related Beliefs and Oral Health Behaviors Among Uninsured Primary Care Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The collaborations between dental care providers and other health care providers are especially needed for underserved populations. There is a deficit of research focused on underserved populations who utilize a safety net facility such as a free clinic in the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between health-related beliefs and oral health behaviors among uninsured adults utilizing a primary care free clinic providing oral health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Uninsured primary care patients utilizing a free clinic (N = 585) participated in a self-administered paper survey in May and June, 2016.
  
  
  RESULTS
  More than 60% of free clinic patients reported a perceived need for dental treatment. Free clinic patients who brush their teeth more than once a day reported better perceived general health compared with those who do not brush their teeth more than once a day. Free clinic patients who had perceived a need for dental treatment reported worse perceived general health compared to those who did not report dental needs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate a pressing need for the further development of dental care services at safety-net clinics. By including dental care in health promotion programs, it will have positive impacts not only on oral health but also on a healthy lifestyle and the general health of underserved populations utilizing a safety-net clinic. The implementation and evaluation of the integrated health programs, which include primary care and oral health care together, would be beneficial to reduce oral health disparities.
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamimura
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Bethany
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gull
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Lindsey
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: 2 Maliheh Free Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Jeanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ashby
authors.affiliation: 1 University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
authors.forename: Lea E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Erickson
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009909:Oral Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D064876:Safety-net Providers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014099:Toothbrushing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: medically uninsured; oral health behaviors; perceived needs for dental treatment; safety-net; self-reported general health