TY - JOUR
T1 - Factors of Dental Care Utilization in Foreign-Born Older Chinese Americans
AU - Mao, W.
AU - Wu, B.
AU - Yang, W.
AU - Chi, I.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research and American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research 2023.
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - Good oral health is essential for healthy aging. Regular dental care utilization is instrumental to good oral health. Older immigrants tend to experience poorer oral health and less dental care use as compared with their native-born counterparts in the host country. Older immigrants are particularly vulnerable to interrupted or lost social ties and acculturation challenges after immigration to a new country. This study examined whether and to what extent social relations, acculturation, and perceived oral health needs are associated with dental care utilization in foreign-born older Chinese Americans. Data came from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, which were collected between 2017 and 2019 (N = 3,000). Dental care utilization was dichotomized into “yes” versus “no” in the past 2 y. Social relations were measured by positive and negative relations with spouse, family, and friends. Acculturation was measured by length of stay, behavioral acculturation, and residence in Chinatown. Perceived oral health needs were measured by the presence of problems related to teeth, gums, or bleeding. As guided by the Andersen model, separate logistic regression models were used to investigate factors of dental care utilization. An overall 23.1% reported dental care utilization. Individuals with no negative relations with spouse, family, and friends were 31%, 36%, and 38% less likely to visit a dentist, respectively. Individuals with higher levels of behavioral acculturation were 4% more likely to visit a dentist; individuals living in Chinatown were 45% less likely; and individuals with perceived oral health needs were 2.5 times more likely. Findings illustrate the importance of understanding social relations, immigration-related factors, and perceived oral health needs in dental care utilization in older immigrants.
AB - Good oral health is essential for healthy aging. Regular dental care utilization is instrumental to good oral health. Older immigrants tend to experience poorer oral health and less dental care use as compared with their native-born counterparts in the host country. Older immigrants are particularly vulnerable to interrupted or lost social ties and acculturation challenges after immigration to a new country. This study examined whether and to what extent social relations, acculturation, and perceived oral health needs are associated with dental care utilization in foreign-born older Chinese Americans. Data came from the Population Study of Chinese Elderly in Chicago, which were collected between 2017 and 2019 (N = 3,000). Dental care utilization was dichotomized into “yes” versus “no” in the past 2 y. Social relations were measured by positive and negative relations with spouse, family, and friends. Acculturation was measured by length of stay, behavioral acculturation, and residence in Chinatown. Perceived oral health needs were measured by the presence of problems related to teeth, gums, or bleeding. As guided by the Andersen model, separate logistic regression models were used to investigate factors of dental care utilization. An overall 23.1% reported dental care utilization. Individuals with no negative relations with spouse, family, and friends were 31%, 36%, and 38% less likely to visit a dentist, respectively. Individuals with higher levels of behavioral acculturation were 4% more likely to visit a dentist; individuals living in Chinatown were 45% less likely; and individuals with perceived oral health needs were 2.5 times more likely. Findings illustrate the importance of understanding social relations, immigration-related factors, and perceived oral health needs in dental care utilization in older immigrants.
KW - acculturation
KW - correlates
KW - dental service
KW - immigration
KW - oral health
KW - social relations
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U2 - 10.1177/00220345231170845
DO - 10.1177/00220345231170845
M3 - Article
C2 - 37249263
AN - SCOPUS:85162934060
SN - 0022-0345
VL - 102
SP - 895
EP - 900
JO - Journal of dental research
JF - Journal of dental research
IS - 8
ER -