What is oral health? Dentist's understanding of 'oral health' – a cross cultural comparison between the UK and China
1st Supervisor: Dr Sasha Scambler
2nd Supervisor: Dr Blanaid Daly
Description of project
This study is seeking to explore understandings of lay perceptions of the mouth and oral health amongst Dental professionals in UK and China, with particular reference to oral health behaviours and service use.
Although there is a significant body of research exploring barriers to dental service usage and some research which demonstrates differentiation of treatment options according to factors such as social class, there is little relating directly to how dentists perceive oral health behaviour amongst their patients. Professional perceptions of lay people’s motivations and concerns around oral health behaviours shape the ways in which treatments are offered to patients.
This study will examine whether there are differences in the ways in which dental professionals from the UK and China understand the oral health priorities and motivations of their patients and the potential impact of these perceptions on treatment and the quality of care provided. These professional views will be presented and discussed by a range of dental stakeholders to identify how the findings from our research might inform the future training of the dental workforce, oral health promotion and health policy in relation to primary dental care delivery.
Aims:
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To explore how dental professionals from the UK and China perceive oral health motivations and priorities amongst lay people.
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To identify factors that may affect treatment choices and quality of care
Duration of project: 3 years
Contact for further information:
Dr Sasha Scambler
Email: sasha.scambler@kcl.ac.uk
Research Topic: Social & Behavioural Science
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