Symptom Interpretation & Oral Health among Harlem Adults

描述（由申请人提供）：尽管美国人口的口腔健康在过去三十年中有了很大的改善，但不同亚人群之间仍然存在显著的差异。卫生局局长2000年发表的报告《美国口腔健康》揭示了一种隐藏的口腔疾病流行病，主要由这些处境不利的社会群体承担。在哈莱姆家庭调查中，在受访者被问及的50项健康投诉中，牙齿或牙龈问题是最常被提及的问题（30%）。如果有的话，弱势群体在遇到口腔症状或问题时会采取什么补救措施？虽然获得护理无疑是他们将采取行动的关键决定因素，但其他因素，如世俗信仰、态度和情绪（例如恐惧和威胁），调查或了解得较少，也很重要。例如，他们对口腔症状/问题的随意归因会指导他们的应对反应，包括是否寻求正式的牙科护理，尝试自我护理（包括自我用药和治疗），或者现在什么都不做（即延迟行动）。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Although the oral health of the US population has greatly improved over the last three decades, significant disparities continue to exist among different subpopulations. The Surgeon General's report "Oral Health in America" published in 2000 revealed a hidden epidemic of oral diseases that is largely borne by these disadvantaged social groups. In the Harlem Household Survey, from among 50 health complaints about which respondents were questioned, problems with teeth or gums were the most frequently cited problem (30 percent). What remedial actions, if any, do disadvantaged individuals take when they experience oral symptoms or problems? While access to care is undoubtedly a critical determinant of the actions they will take, other factors much less well investigated or understood such as lay beliefs, attitudes and emotions (e.g., fear and threat) are also important. For example, the casual attributions they assign to their oral symptom/problems, will guide their coping responses including whether to seek formal dental care, attempt self care (including self-medication and treatment), or do nothing for now (i.e., delay action). To gain better understanding of these issues, we propose to study the symptom appraisal processes and coping responses of non-Hispanic Black/African Americans residing in Central Harlem who have experienced an oral symptom within the last six months. Of particular interest, are the self-care behaviors used in response to oral problems. In the field of dental research, self-care has been looked at almost exclusively in terms of behaviors enacted by the individuals to prevent dental problems (i.e. oral health behaviors). Particularly brushing, flossing, use of interdental devices, use of mouthwashes, and regular dental visits. There is on the other hand, a dearth of research data self-care behavior in response to dental or oral symptom and problems (i.e., illness behavior), which is our focus in the proposed study. In depth face-to-face, focused interviews will be conducted with 120 adults. As in several of the principal Investigator's previous federally funded investigations, qualitative research methods will be employed.