UVM AHEC

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2024

Focus Area

Social Determinants of Health, Oral Health

Abstract

Introduction: Dental healthcare is incredibly important for preventative care and overall health. Compared to other types of medical trainees, dental students and residents have less formal training in providing inclusive care for LGBTQIA+ patients1. Access to queer health training for dental trainees varies widely by location and specific training site1. Many queer-identifying patients have significant barriers to dental care2, a significant one being providers’ lack of understanding of queer identities and best practices for treating queer and transgender patients3.

Methods: To learn more about the knowledge gap related to LGBTQIA+ dental care, a needs assessment was conducted during meetings with Vermont dental residents and the American Institute of Dental Public Health (AIDPH). Partnering with AIDPH, we adapted their LGBTQIA+ Cultural Responsiveness for Oral Health Providers Workbook into a series of scripts. These scripts were used to make eight short videos.

Results: Significant interest in additional resources for current dental health professionals was expressed by dental residents. Preference was shown for a video-type training format due to easier dissemination and growth of the project. Eight short videos focusing on different aspects of queer-inclusive dental care were produced during this project to fit this need.

Discussion & Next Steps: Next steps include disseminating video curriculum to Vermont dentists and other dental health professionals. Prior to viewing the videos, a pre-survey will be administered to dental health professionals to determine baseline understanding of queer health issues and barriers to dental care for LGBTQIA+ patients. After completing the curriculum, a post-survey will be administered. Analysis of the changes between the pre- and post-survey responses will motivate the future of the project.

Citations:

  1. Hillenburg KL, Murdoch-Kinch CA, Kinney JS, Temple H, Inglehart MR. LGBT Coverage in U.S. Dental Schools and Dental Hygiene Programs: Results of a National Survey. Journal of Dental Education. 2016;80(12):1440-1449. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.0022-0337.2016.80.12.tb06231.

  2. Tharp G, Wohlford M, Shukla A. Reviewing challenges in access to oral health services among the LGBTQ+ community in Indiana and Michigan: A cross-sectional, exploratory study. PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0264271. Published 2022 Feb 25. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0264271

  3. Marshall-Paquin TL, Boyd LD, Palica RJ. Knowledge, attitudes, and willingness of oral health professionals to treat transgender patients. Can J Dent Hyg. 2023;57(3):161-171. Published 2023 Oct 1.

Comments

Marina Cannon, Ell Culleen, and Amir Zafaranian presented the poster at the 2024 UVM Health Equity Summit -- Building Solidarity: Sustainable Pathways towards Health Equity -- on October 7, 2024

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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