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Oral health – not a priority issue A G rounded T heory analysis of barriers for young patients with disabilities to receive oral health care on the same premise as others
Author(s) -
Klingberg Gunilla,
Hallberg Ulrika
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
european journal of oral sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.802
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1600-0722
pISSN - 0909-8836
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0722.2012.00961.x
Subject(s) - premise , oral health , health care , medicine , dental care , oral health care , family medicine , health professionals , nursing , psychology , philosophy , linguistics , economics , economic growth
Oral health problems are reported more frequently in children with disabilities, but the reasons for this are not fully known. The present study was conducted to illuminate and to gain a deeper understanding of the possible barriers preventing children with disabilities from receiving oral health care on the same premise as others. Transcribed in‐depth interviews with 65 informants (14 parents, 18 dental health‐care professionals, 17 medical health‐care professionals, and 16 individuals with disabilities) were analysed in open, axial, and selective coding processes according to Grounded Theory. The results showed that no‐one seems to take an overriding responsibility for the oral health of young patients with disabilities. This was described in a formal theory showing that defective knowledge about importance of oral health , limited ability to focus on oral health , and uncertainty in treating the unknown in patients, family, and dental and medical health‐care professionals result in a situation in which oral health is left out in young patients with disabilities; it is not a priority issue .