RESUMEN
This quality improvement project explored dental caries risk among children residing in El Monte, Calif., a low-income area 16 miles east of Los Angeles. In an attempt to decrease oral health disparities, Western University of Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine established school-based oral health centers in El Monte and implemented a modified caries risk assessment protocol. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in caries risk following disease management interventions.
Asunto(s)
Caries Dental/prevención & control , Adolescente , California , Cariostáticos/uso terapéutico , Niño , Salud Infantil , Preescolar , Estudios de Cohortes , Atención Dental para Niños , Susceptibilidad a Caries Dentarias , Registros Electrónicos de Salud , Conducta Alimentaria , Femenino , Fluoruros Tópicos/uso terapéutico , Disparidades en el Estado de Salud , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Entrevista Motivacional , Salud Bucal , Higiene Bucal/educación , Pobreza , Mejoramiento de la Calidad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Medición de Riesgo , Servicios de Odontología Escolar , Poblaciones Vulnerables , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Cultural competency as introduced to the healthcare industry had the intention to alleviate and familiarize all healthcare providers with individuals of other cultures and backgrounds than "self". It attempted to fill in the gaps and prepare providers to relate better with their patients and provide cross-cultural care. Although it gave the impression of helping to decrease biases and stigma, it resulted in stronger biases, stereotypes of different ethnic groups, and racial profiling. It never acknowledged the systemic barriers that are so ingrained in our society that determine who gets access to care, and who gets the best outcomes in our healthcare system. Starting with the premise of our Surgeon General Reports, we reviewed the Social Determinants of Health and the relationship to structural barriers. This manuscript describes the numerous barriers that affect the access to care, and outcomes of the most marginalized population in the US. Numerous of which are so prevalent amongst all of us that they "feel normal" that there is a degree of structural blindness. We share the experience and frameworks to assess the structural vulnerability of our patients and introduce the different aspects of the curriculum and research that are currently in place to address and bring structural competency to the forefront of dental education at WesternU College of Dental Medicine in Pomona CA.