Dental Health Utilization in Palau: Feasibility of an Oral Cancer Screening Program.

Autor:	Rieth K; Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA., Sy A; John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA., McIntosh S; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA., Ikerdu E; Division of Primary & Preventive Health, Palau Bureau of Public Health, Koror, PW., Cupertino A; University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA., Dye TD; School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA., Martina CA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Annals of global health [Ann Glob Health] 2023 Sep 20; Vol. 89 (1), pp. 60. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Sep 20 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI:	10.5334/aogh.4174
Abstrakt:	Background: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the Western Pacific region. The prevalent tradition of chewing betel nut in Palau, an island nation in this region, is a risk factor in the development of oral cancer. Oral cancer is the fifth most common cancer in Palau, and the prognosis can be improved with early detection facilitated by visual inspection of the oral cavity by dentists. The purpose of this study is to assess the feasibility of oral cancer screening using existing dental health infrastructure in Palau. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used to explore topics related to the use of dental care resources in Palau. Primary outcome measures were collected using an electronic survey with closed- and open-ended questions addressing dental health utilization as well as barriers and facilitators to accessing dental care. Secondary measures assessed knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about betel nut use and oral cancer. Open-ended survey questions were analyzed and coded to develop themes based in grounded theory. Results: Two hundred twenty-three surveys were completed. The mean age was 42.7 years, 80% identified as female, and most (94.3%) report having seen a dentist in Palau. Dental care is seen as important (mean score 82.3/100), and 57.9% reported it was easy to access a dentist. Themes regarding facilitators include multilevel resources and transportation. Themes regarding barriers include cost and availability of dentists/appointments. Approximately half of the respondents were current users of betel nut. Conclusion: Our results suggest facilitators are in place to promote seeking and obtaining dental care; however, existing infrastructure may not support an oral cancer screening program. These data provide important areas to address that can improve access and support the implementation of oral cancer screening through existing dental care in the future. Competing Interests: The authors have no competing interests to declare. (Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s).)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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