Journal of Community Health
Volume 40, Issue 1, 2014, Pages 110-115

Dental Care Access for Low-Income and Immigrant Cancer Patients in New York City (Article)

Howard J.R.* , Ramirez J. , Li Y. , Gany F.
  • a Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • b Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • c Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • d Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

This exploratory study assesses the dental care needs and access of low-income, mostly immigrant cancer patients enrolled in New York City’s Integrated Cancer Care Action Network (ICCAN). A nested cohort of patients from ICCAN responded to a dental needs assessment that surveyed current dental health as well as access to, and use of, dental services. 373 patients participated. Self-report of having a dentist to visit, current dental problems, income, and insurance most significantly predicted a dentist visit in the past year. Discussing treatment-related oral side effects with the oncologist greatly increased the likelihood of seeing a dentist, but few patients reported having had this conversation. There is a lack of oral care information flowing from oncologists to low income patients. We found a high number of reported dental problems: concerning because of potential treatment interference and risk for infection. Finally, ability to pay largely determined dental care access in our study participants. © 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

cancer Oral health Immigrant Community health Low-income Access to care

Index Keywords

Needs Assessment poverty Neoplasms human sex difference middle aged statistics and numerical data Aged dental procedure United States Young Adult Dental Care Humans migrant Adolescent male Emigrants and Immigrants female Aged, 80 and over very elderly Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice adult New York City age Sex Factors Age Factors attitude to health Health Services Accessibility health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84939891014&doi=10.1007%2fs10900-014-9904-0&partnerID=40&md5=2f96d4e5195430dd07edf413d98f3a52
DOI: 10.1007/s10900-014-9904-0
ISSN: 00945145
Cited by: 2
Original Language: English