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Dental public health

What factors influence refugees’ attendance to dental care services?

Evidence-Based Dentistry volume 25, pages 25–26 (2024)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Data sources

Four electronic databases: MEDLINE (via Ovid), Embase (via Ovid), Web of Science, and American Psychology Association PsycINFO.

Study selection

Quantitative observational or interventional studies, published until the end of February 2022 with no restrictions to date, language, or region of publication.

Data extraction and synthesis

Screening performed by one author and a second author independently reviewed a random sample of 10% of the articles. Disagreements were resolved in consultation with a third author.

Results

The results were presented as a narrative review due to large heterogeneity of data. Nine studies met the eligibility criteria and most of them were rated as fair quality. The main factors influencing refugees access to dental care services were demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and English language proficiency.

Conclusions

The review suggests that individual-level factors may have a predisposing effect on refugees’ access, but had limited evidence on other enabling and contextual factors.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Stefan Serban & David I. Conway

Authors
  1. Stefan Serban
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  2. David I. Conway
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stefan Serban.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Cite this article

Serban, S., Conway, D.I. What factors influence refugees’ attendance to dental care services?. Evid Based Dent 25, 25–26 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-023-00963-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41432-023-00963-8

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