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Dental Care Access for Low-Income and Immigrant Cancer Patients in New York City

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Abstract

This exploratory study assesses the dental care needs and access of low-income, mostly immigrant cancer patients enrolled in New York City’s Integrated Cancer Care Action Network (ICCAN). A nested cohort of patients from ICCAN responded to a dental needs assessment that surveyed current dental health as well as access to, and use of, dental services. 373 patients participated. Self-report of having a dentist to visit, current dental problems, income, and insurance most significantly predicted a dentist visit in the past year. Discussing treatment-related oral side effects with the oncologist greatly increased the likelihood of seeing a dentist, but few patients reported having had this conversation. There is a lack of oral care information flowing from oncologists to low income patients. We found a high number of reported dental problems: concerning because of potential treatment interference and risk for infection. Finally, ability to pay largely determined dental care access in our study participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Jocelyn R. Howard, Julia Ramirez, Yuelin Li & Francesca Gany

Authors
  1. Jocelyn R. Howard
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  2. Julia Ramirez
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  3. Yuelin Li
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  4. Francesca Gany
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Correspondence to Jocelyn R. Howard.

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Howard, J.R., Ramirez, J., Li, Y. et al. Dental Care Access for Low-Income and Immigrant Cancer Patients in New York City. J Community Health 40, 110–115 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9904-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-014-9904-0

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