Category
Poster - Applied
Description
Introduction/Background: Access to oral healthcare is impacted by determinants such as socioeconomic status, race, and geographic conditions. Disparities in oral healthcare and equity affect the oral health and overall wellbeing of disadvantaged groups. Investigating oral health disparities involves analyzing resource allocation, service utilization, professional interactions, and financial burdens, forming interconnected domains for thorough examination. This study aims to determine the demographic trends of annual dental visits by adults (ages 18+) in Virginia during the 2020 calendar year. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed using data from the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS) adult indicators survey. After manually screening for 2020 data in Virginia adults, 9446 individuals were examined. This data was analyzed using chi-square tests of independence for statistically significant associations between demographic factors and dental care access in Virginia adults. Results: Chi-square tests of independence at α = 0.05 showed statistically significant evidence that demographic status (age, education, gender, income, race) and participation in annual dental care are not independent (p = <0.001 for age, education, income, and race; p = 0.004 for gender). Conclusion: Demographic factors like age, education level, gender, income, and race influence annual dental visitation rates across Virginia. Education, race, and income are significant factors impacting annual dental visit variations among different demographic groups in Virginia. Annual dental visits are mostly for preventive dental care. Research shows preventive dental care reduces nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures. Therefore, understanding the demographic trends in annual dental visits across Virginia can help to put in place interventions to improve the number of adults going for annual dental checkups.
Demographic Trends of Annual Dental Visits by Adults (ages 18+) in Virginia, 2020
Poster - Applied
Introduction/Background: Access to oral healthcare is impacted by determinants such as socioeconomic status, race, and geographic conditions. Disparities in oral healthcare and equity affect the oral health and overall wellbeing of disadvantaged groups. Investigating oral health disparities involves analyzing resource allocation, service utilization, professional interactions, and financial burdens, forming interconnected domains for thorough examination. This study aims to determine the demographic trends of annual dental visits by adults (ages 18+) in Virginia during the 2020 calendar year. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed using data from the National Oral Health Surveillance System (NOHSS) adult indicators survey. After manually screening for 2020 data in Virginia adults, 9446 individuals were examined. This data was analyzed using chi-square tests of independence for statistically significant associations between demographic factors and dental care access in Virginia adults. Results: Chi-square tests of independence at α = 0.05 showed statistically significant evidence that demographic status (age, education, gender, income, race) and participation in annual dental care are not independent (p = <0.001 for age, education, income, and race; p = 0.004 for gender). Conclusion: Demographic factors like age, education level, gender, income, and race influence annual dental visitation rates across Virginia. Education, race, and income are significant factors impacting annual dental visit variations among different demographic groups in Virginia. Annual dental visits are mostly for preventive dental care. Research shows preventive dental care reduces nonpreventive dental visits and expenditures. Therefore, understanding the demographic trends in annual dental visits across Virginia can help to put in place interventions to improve the number of adults going for annual dental checkups.
Comments
Graduate