Provision of dental services for vulnerable groups: a scoping review on children with special health care needs

BMC Health Services Research

Arash Ghanbarzadegan¹  Giampiero Rossi-Fedele²  Peivand Bastani³  Mohammadtaghi Mohammadpour⁴  Marco A. Peres⁵ 

[1] Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health (ARCPOH), Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia;Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Adelaide Dental School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia;Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Ghasrdasht street, Shiraz, Iran;Health Human Resources Research Center, School of Management and Medical Informatics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran;National Dental Research Institute, Singapore, 5 Second Hospital Ave, 168938, Singapore, Singapore;

关键词: Dentistry service;    Provision;    Children with special health care needs;    Dental health;    Oral health;    Disparity;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12913-021-07293-4

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe provision of dental services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) needs to be considered by policymakers. This study is aimed to explore the determinant factors affecting dental and oral services provision for this vulnerable group.MethodsA review was conducted applying the 9-steps approach. Five scientific databases of PUBMED, SCOPUS, Web of Science and PROQUEST and EMBASE were searched up to 10.07.2021, applying appropriate keywords. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the extracted data, and a conceptual map was developed according to JBI manual for evidence synthesis.ResultsFrom the abstracts of the 136 articles that fulfilled the inclusion criteria, 56 articles were included. Five main themes were identified as determinants affecting the provision of dentistry services for CSHCN, including needs assessment, policy advice, oral health interventions, providers’ perception and access barriers. According to the developed conceptual map, assessing the needs of CSHCN can lead to particular policy advice. Regarding the policies, appropriate oral health interventions can be presented. These interventions, along with providers’ perception about service delivery to CSHCN and the barriers to access them, determine the provision of dentistry services for CSHCN.ConclusionsAn effective needs assessment of CSHCN and their parents/carers can lead to evidence-informed policymaking and applicable policy advice according to the needs. Then policymakers should develop interventions to improve the community’s health literacy, as well as support the seeking behaviours for appropriate services. Policymakers should also consider how to limit the barriers to accessing oral and dental health by CSHCN to decrease disparities.

【 授权许可】

CC BY