Assessment of Various Factors Contributing to Unfavourable Oral Health Care Seeking Behaviour: A Cross-Sectional Study.
| Autor: | Tharshini P; Department of Public Health Dentistry, MP Smile Care, Coimbatore, IND., Selvamary L; Department of Public Health dentistry, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, IND., Narayanan A; Department of Public Health Dentistry, The Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, IND., S G RK; Department of Public Health Dentistry, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, IND., A S; Department of Public Health Dentistry, Tamil Nadu Government Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, IND. |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | Cureus [Cureus] 2024 Jan 27; Vol. 16 (1), pp. e53037. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jan 27 (Print Publication: 2024). |
| DOI: | 10.7759/cureus.53037 |
| Abstrakt: | Background: Access to effective oral health care is crucial for a good quality of life. Unfortunately, many individuals face barriers in accessing the necessary oral health care services. By examining various factors, we can gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by the population and work towards improving oral health care outcomes. This study aims to assess the various factors contributing to unfavorable oral healthcare-seeking behavior in Chennai city. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Chennai city involving six hundred and twenty-four individuals from the general population from 12 wards by lottery method. The data collection process involved interviews using a pre-designed questionnaire, through which demographic information was gathered. The Penchansky and Thomas model was employed to assess barriers in service utilization. All completed questionnaires were included in the data analysis, which was performed using SPSS version 20. Results: In the present study, among the various dimensions of access suggested by Penchansky and Thomas, the major reason for unfavorable oral healthcare-seeking behavior was accommodation (54.8%), followed by affordability (20.2%), accessibility (5.6%), acceptability (4.4%), and availability (1.1%). The other reasons that contributed were sociocultural factors (26.4%), lack of awareness (20.8%), and psychosocial factors (11.8%). Conclusion: The present study highlights lack of time as the major factor contributing to unfavourable oral healthcare-seeking behaviour in an urban population. This finding contrasts with previous studies that have focussed on the lack of awareness about dental diseases and the high cost of dental treatment in rural areas. Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (Copyright © 2024, Tharshini et al.) |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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