Northridge Mary E, Schenkel Andrew B, Birenz Shirley, Estrada Ivette, Metcalf Sara S, Wolff Mark S
Dr. Northridge is Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, New York University College of Dentistry; Dr. Schenkel is Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, New York University College of Dentistry; Prof. Birenz is Clinical Assistant Professor, Dental Hygiene Programs, New York University College of Dentistry; Ms. Estrada is Project Coordinator, Section of Population Oral Health, Columbia University College of Dental Medicine; Dr. Metcalf is Associate Professor, Department of Geography, State University of New York at Buffalo; and Dr. Wolff is Associate Dean for Predoctoral Clinical Education, Associate Dean for Development, and Professor and Chair, Department of Cariology and Comprehensive Care, New York University College of Dentistry.
J Dent Educ. 2017 Nov;81(11):1273-1282. doi: 10.21815/JDE.017.085.
To help eliminate reported racial/ethnic and socioeconomic inequities in oral health care, listening to the perspectives of racial/ethnic minority older adults on their experiences with dental school clinics is needed. The aim of this study was to examine the experiences of African American, Puerto Rican, and Dominican older adults who attend senior centers in upper Manhattan, New York City, regarding the care received at dental school clinics. Focus groups were conducted from 2013 to 2015 with 194 racial/ethnic minority men and women aged 50 years and older living in upper Manhattan. All of the 24 focus group sessions were digitally audiorecorded and transcribed for analysis. Groups conducted in Spanish were transcribed first in Spanish and then translated into English. Analysis of the transcripts was conducted using thematic content analysis. Seven subthemes were manifest in the data related to these adults' positive experiences with dental school clinics: excellent outcomes and dentists, painless and safe treatment, affordable care, honest and reputable, benefits of student training, accepting and helpful, and recommended by family and friends. Negative experiences centered around four subthemes: multiple visits required for treatment, loss of interpersonal communication due to use of technology, inconvenient location, and perceived stigma with Medicaid. This study provided novel evidence of the largely positive experiences with dental schools of racial/ethnic minority senior center attendees. Interventions targeted at the organization and provider level, including organizational motivation, resources, staff attributes, climate, and teamwork plus payment programs and services, insurance and affordability, and provider- and system-level supports, may improve health care processes and patient experiences of care.
为了帮助消除口腔医疗保健中报告的种族/族裔和社会经济不平等现象，需要倾听少数族裔老年人对其在牙科学院诊所就医经历的看法。本研究的目的是调查居住在纽约市曼哈顿上城、参加老年中心的非裔美国人、波多黎各人和多米尼加老年人在牙科学院诊所接受治疗的经历。2013年至2015年，对居住在曼哈顿上城、年龄在50岁及以上的194名少数族裔男性和女性进行了焦点小组访谈。所有24次焦点小组访谈都进行了数字录音，并转录下来进行分析。用西班牙语进行的小组访谈先转录成西班牙语，然后再翻译成英语。使用主题内容分析法对转录文本进行分析。与这些成年人在牙科学院诊所的积极经历相关的数据中出现了七个子主题：治疗效果极佳和牙医优秀、治疗无痛且安全、医疗费用可承受、诚实且声誉良好、学生培训的益处、接纳且乐于助人、被家人和朋友推荐。负面经历集中在四个子主题上：治疗需要多次就诊、因使用技术导致人际沟通缺失、位置不便、以及对医疗补助存在耻辱感。本研究提供了新的证据，证明少数族裔老年中心参与者在牙科学院的就医经历大多是积极的。针对组织和提供者层面的干预措施，包括组织动机、资源、员工特质、氛围和团队合作以及支付计划和服务、保险和可承受性，以及提供者和系统层面的支持，可能会改善医疗保健流程和患者的就医体验。
