Refereed Publications

1. Wu, B., Dental service utilization among urban and rural older adults in China -- a brief communication., Journal of public health dentistry, vol. 67 no. 3 (Spring, 2005), pp. 185-8, ISSN 0022-4006
   (last updated on 2011/03/28)

   Abstract:
   OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to identify factors predictive of use of dental services among Chinese- and Russian-speaking immigrant elders. METHODS: The data for this analysis were collected from the 1997 survey ``Assessing public health and health care needs of Russian-speaking elderly immigrants.'' A similar survey was replicated among Chinese-speaking elderly immigrants in 2000. Community-based samples of 300 Russian elders and 177 Chinese elders were recruited for the study. RESULTS: Chinese elders used dental care services at lower rates than Russian elders. Education, length of stay in the U.S., social support, and smoking behavior were significant predictors for the use of dental services among Chinese. However, among Russian elders, age, income, and denture use predicted utilization of dental services. CONCLUSIONS: Although Chinese- and Russian-speaking elders have similar immigrant experiences and share the same geographic location and urban setting, the two groups have different patterns of dental service use. These differences may be due to differences in socio-demographic characteristics, values, attitudes and knowledge of oral health and dental care, and unique cultural backgrounds.

   Keywords:
   Aged • Aged, 80 and over • China • Cross-Sectional Studies • Dental Health Services • Female • Health Behavior • Health Services Accessibility • Health Status • Humans • Insurance, Dental • Logistic Models • Male • Middle Aged • Rural Population • Sampling Studies • Socioeconomic Factors • Urban Population • statistics & numerical data* • utilization*