Mungia Rahma, Testa Alexander, Hernandez Daphne C, Cunha-Cruz Joana, Garcia Kayla M, Gilbert Gregg H
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
Health Promot Pract. 2024 Oct 23:15248399241287206. doi: 10.1177/15248399241287206.
Food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition characterized by limited access to nutritious food. This study explored dental practitioners' views on food insecurity screening and its impact on oral health. A five-question survey ("Quick Poll") was conducted through the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) in the United States. A total of 332 dental practitioners responded. Preferences for food insecurity screening in dental practice settings showed substantial variability: 30% in favor, 39% neutral, and 29% against. When identifying the primary oral health issue influenced by food insecurity, 68% pinpointed dental caries. Over half (53%) expressed comfort in directing patients experiencing food insecurity to relevant resources. Notably, 61% of respondents expressed interest in being involved in future food insecurity clinical studies. This preliminary study underscores the relevance of food insecurity in the professional dental setting and suggests that the clinical setting may be well suited for educational programs designed to improve the oral health of patients experiencing food insecurity. Future research may achieve this goal, including a PBRN clinical study of interventions to improve oral health among patients experiencing food insecurity.
粮食不安全是一种家庭层面的经济和社会状况，其特征是难以获得营养丰富的食物。本研究探讨了牙科医生对粮食不安全筛查及其对口腔健康影响的看法。通过美国国家基于牙科实践的研究网络（PBRN）进行了一项包含五个问题的调查（“快速民意调查”）。共有332名牙科医生做出了回应。牙科实践环境中对粮食不安全筛查的偏好显示出很大差异：30%赞成，39%中立，29%反对。在确定受粮食不安全影响的主要口腔健康问题时，68%指出是龋齿。超过一半（53%）的人表示愿意将经历粮食不安全的患者引导至相关资源。值得注意的是，61%的受访者表示有兴趣参与未来关于粮食不安全的临床研究。这项初步研究强调了粮食不安全在专业牙科环境中的相关性，并表明临床环境可能非常适合开展旨在改善经历粮食不安全患者口腔健康的教育项目。未来的研究可能会实现这一目标，包括开展一项PBRN临床研究，以探讨改善经历粮食不安全患者口腔健康的干预措施。
