Alfaraj Amal, Halawany Hassan S, Al-Hinai Muntasar T, Al-Badr Abid H, Alalshaikh Marwa, Al-Khalifa Khalifa S
Prosthodontics Residency Program, Department of Prosthodontics, School of Dentistry, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Patient Prefer Adherence. 2021 Jan 22;15:69-76. doi: 10.2147/PPA.S291255. eCollection 2021.
Access to dental care is a key factor influencing oral health outcomes. Individuals with special healthcare needs are at risk of not having access to dental care services which they need to maintain their oral health. This study assessed the magnitude of this problem and identified barriers responsible for the difficulties in accessing dental care in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, as reported by caregivers of individuals with special healthcare needs.
This cross-sectional study collected data using a self-administered survey questionnaire from caregivers of individuals with special healthcare needs across 11 centers (eight special needs centers and three schools) in Qatif, Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, between February and April 2019.
A total of 186 caregivers participated in the study, 102 (54.8%) of whom reported difficulties in getting access to dental care. The key barriers included lack of time on the part of caregivers (60.8%), unsuitable clinic environment (53.9%), difficulties with transportation (51.9%), medical/health status of the individual with special healthcare needs (51.0%), and geographically distant dental clinics (51.0%). Caregiver demographics (age, gender, and educational level) had no significant influence on the difficulties reported by caregivers in getting access to dental care for individuals with special healthcare needs (p>0.05).
A large proportion of caregivers in Qatif, Saudi Arabia, experience difficulties with access to dental care services for individuals with special healthcare needs. The most common barriers are physical accessibility of dental facilities (for individuals with special healthcare needs), affordability, and lack of skills and knowledge of dental care providers.
获得牙齿护理是影响口腔健康结果的关键因素。有特殊医疗需求的个体面临无法获得维持口腔健康所需牙齿护理服务的风险。本研究评估了这一问题的严重程度，并确定了沙特阿拉伯卡提夫有特殊医疗需求个体的照顾者所报告的、导致获得牙齿护理困难的障碍因素。
这项横断面研究于2019年2月至4月期间，使用自填式调查问卷，从沙特阿拉伯东部省卡提夫11个中心（8个特殊需求中心和3所学校）有特殊医疗需求个体的照顾者那里收集数据。
共有186名照顾者参与了该研究，其中102名（54.8%）报告在获得牙齿护理方面存在困难。主要障碍包括照顾者缺乏时间（60.8%）、诊所环境不合适（53.9%）、交通困难（51.9%）、有特殊医疗需求个体的医疗/健康状况（51.0%）以及牙科诊所地理位置偏远（51.0%）。照顾者的人口统计学特征（年龄、性别和教育水平）对照顾者报告的为有特殊医疗需求个体获得牙齿护理的困难没有显著影响（p>0.05）。
沙特阿拉伯卡提夫的很大一部分照顾者在为有特殊医疗需求的个体获得牙齿护理服务方面存在困难。最常见的障碍是牙科设施的实际可及性（对于有特殊医疗需求的个体）、可负担性以及牙科护理提供者缺乏技能和知识。
