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改善，但不同亚群之间仍然存在显著差异。2000年，美国卫生部发布了一份名为《美国口腔健康》的报告，报告揭示了一种隐藏的口腔疾病流行病，主要由这些弱势社会群体承担。在哈莱姆家庭调查中，在受访者被问及的50个健康投诉中，牙齿或牙龈问题是最常被提及的问题（30%）。当弱势群体出现口腔症状或问题时，他们会采取什么补救措施？虽然获得护理无疑是他们将采取的行动的一个关键决定因素，但其他因素却没有得到很好的调查或理解，如外行的信仰、态度和情绪（例如，恐惧和威胁也很重要。例如，他们对口腔症状/问题的偶然归因将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（包括自我药物和治疗），或现在什么都不做（即，延迟动作）。 为了更好地了解这些问题，我们建议研究的症状评估过程和应对反应的非西班牙裔黑人/非洲裔美国人居住在中央哈莱姆谁经历了口腔症状在过去的六个月内。特别有趣的是，自我护理行为用于应对口腔问题。在牙科研究领域，自我保健几乎完全是根据个人为预防牙齿问题而制定的行为（即口腔健康行为）来看待的。特别是刷牙、使用牙线、使用牙间装置、使用漱口水和定期看牙。另一方面，缺乏响应于牙齿或口腔症状和问题的自我护理行为的研究数据（即，疾病行为），这是我们在拟议的研究重点。 深入面对面，重点访谈将与120名成年人进行。正如在几个主要研究者的以前联邦资助的调查，定性研究方法将被采用。

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.