Mitchell Dennis A, Lassiter Shana L
Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Am J Public Health. 2006 Dec;96(12):2093-7. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.082818. Epub 2006 Oct 31.
The racial/ethnic composition of our nation is projected to change drastically in the coming decades. It is therefore important that the health professions improve their efforts to provide culturally competent care to all patients. We reviewed literature concerning health care disparities and workforce diversity issues--particularly within the oral health field--and provide a synthesis of recommendations to address these issues. This review is highly relevant to both the medical and public health professions, because they are facing similar disparity and workforce issues. In addition, the recent establishment of relationships between oral health and certain systemic health conditions will elevate oral health promotion and disease prevention as important points of intervention in the quest to improve our nation's public health.
预计在未来几十年里,我国的种族/族裔构成将发生巨大变化。因此,医疗行业加大力度为所有患者提供具有文化胜任力的护理非常重要。我们回顾了有关医疗保健差异和劳动力多样性问题的文献——特别是口腔健康领域的相关文献——并综合提出了应对这些问题的建议。这一综述对医学和公共卫生行业都具有高度相关性,因为它们面临着类似的差异和劳动力问题。此外,口腔健康与某些全身性健康状况之间最近建立的联系,将使口腔健康促进和疾病预防成为改善我国公共卫生的重要干预点。