Integrating preventive dental care into general Paediatric practice for Indigenous communities: paediatric residents’ perceptions

This qualitative study aimed to explore paediatric residents’ perceptions of the feasibility of incorporating preventive dental care into a general paediatric outreach clinic for a First Nations community. Four focus groups were conducted with paediatric residents and attending paediatricians. Inter...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Main Authors: Mohamed ElSalhy, Mandeep Gill, Daniela Migliarese Isaac, Randy Littlechild, Lola Baydala, Maryam Amin
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2019.1573162
https://doaj.org/article/32e63b3390674571baa23bfe8f7afe72
Description
Summary:This qualitative study aimed to explore paediatric residents’ perceptions of the feasibility of incorporating preventive dental care into a general paediatric outreach clinic for a First Nations community. Four focus groups were conducted with paediatric residents and attending paediatricians. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a basic interpretive qualitative approach. Three major themes emerged from the data: advantages of integration, barriers to integration and strategies for integration. Comprehensive care and service delivery were the two identified advantages of integration. Three categories of barriers emerged including patient and caregiver-related, resident-related and setting-related barriers. Training and practice, patient education, support and policy were the suggested strategies for successful integration. Providers were found to be open to integrating preventive dental care into their practice. However, barriers impeded the success of this integration. Multiple strategies including oral health care training for medical providers, office support and policy changes would facilitate successful integration.