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30年中有了很大的改善，但在不同的亚群中仍然存在显著的差异。卫生局局长2000年发表的报告《美国的口腔健康》揭示了一种隐藏的口腔疾病流行，这种疾病主要由这些弱势社会群体承担。在哈莱姆家庭调查中，在被询问的50起健康投诉中，牙齿或牙床问题是最常被提及的问题(30%)。当处于不利地位的个人出现口腔症状或问题时，他们会采取什么补救措施？尽管获得护理无疑是他们将采取行动的关键决定因素，但其他调查或了解较少的因素，如外行的信仰、态度和情绪(如恐惧和威胁)也很重要。例如，他们对口腔症状/问题的随意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(包括自我治疗和治疗)或暂时不采取任何行动(即推迟行动)。 为了更好地了解这些问题，我们建议研究居住在中央哈莱姆区的非西班牙裔黑人/非洲裔美国人的症状评估过程和应对反应，他们在过去六个月内经历了口腔症状。尤其令人感兴趣的是应对口腔问题时的自我护理行为。在牙科研究领域，自我护理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)来考察的。特别是刷牙、使用牙线、使用牙间器械、使用漱口水和定期看牙。另一方面，缺乏针对牙科或口腔症状和问题(即患病行为)的自理行为的研究数据，这是我们在拟议的研究中的重点。 将对120名成年人进行深入的面对面、重点访谈。与首席调查员之前由联邦政府资助的几项调查一样，将采用定性研究方法。

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.