KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The study aimed to investigate the status of dental services for head and neck cancer patients in Ontario, Canada.
- Researchers concluded that addressing dental service inequities for head and neck cancer patients in Ontario is crucial for government funding decisions.
Dentists play a vital role in managing treatment complications for head and neck cancer patients, yet dental services in Ontario lack characterization, with anticipated disparities in allocation, availability, and funding. Ben B Levy and his team aimed to comprehensively describe and assess the provision of dental services for these patients.
Researchers performed an inclusive analysis through a mixed methods scoping assessment to delve into the state of dental services for head and neck cancer patients in Ontario. Dentist-in-chiefs from each of the 9 designated head and neck cancer centers (tertiary centres which meet provincially-set quality and safety standards) were invited to participate. Invited to partake in a 36-item online survey and a 60-minute semi-structured interview, these participants shared their perceptions, uncovering insights into strengths, gaps, and inequities within dental services. In instances where a designated center lacked a dentist-in-chief, an alternative stakeholder well-versed in the center’s dental services stepped in. Thematic analysis of interview data employed a mixed deductive-inductive approach, ensuring a comprehensive exploration of the subject matter.
Survey questionnaires were successfully completed at 7 of the 9 designated head and neck cancer centers. Among these centres, 5 had a publicly funded dental clinic, but only 2 offered automatic dental assessment for all patients. Notably, survey data from 2 centers were unavailable due to the absence of active dental services. In qualitative interviews conducted at 9 of 9 designated centers, 3 prominent themes emerged. lack of financial resources, heterogeneity in dentistry care provision, and gaps in the continuity of care.
Participants expressed notable challenges stemming from under-resourcing and restrictions in funding for dental services across Ontario. These challenges were noted to contribute to poorer health outcomes, particularly for vulnerable patients. The interviews also shed light on extensive advocacy efforts led by champions of dental services who actively sought to address and mitigate existing disparities in dentistry care.
The study concluded that existing inequities in dental services for head and neck cancer patients in Ontario underscore the imperative for evidence-based decision-making. The data obtained will significantly contribute to shaping more equitable allocation and funding of dental services by government health care agencies.
No funding was provided for the study.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38350886/
Levy BB, Goodman J, Watson E, et.al (2024). A scoping assessment of dental services at designated head and neck cancer centres in Ontario, Canada. BMC Oral Health. 2024 Feb 13;24(1):232. doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-03992-6. PMID: 38350886; PMCID: PMC10865540.
