Grant: CIHR Clinician Scientist - Phase 2

Those who live in rural communities may be prone to oral health problems because of geographic remoteness, socioeconomic deprivation, and inadequate access to dental services. In fact, oral health care disparities and underutilization of dental care have been reported in rural Canada. Rural Canadians have a lower level of population to dentist ratio, lower dental insurance coverage and decreased dental services compared to their urban counterparts. Furthermore, there has been limited attention given to rural oral health research in Canada. Therefore, we need to provide information and to design programs aimed at improving community based services. In collaboration with the Quebec National Institute of Public Health, we will collect data on the clinical oral health status of 2670 primary schoolchildren living in 10 regions of Quebec. We will also send questionnaires to 3500 parents or caregivers of these children and we will collect additional data on the parent's oral health, predisposing factors (socio-demographic, psychological characteristics), enabling resources (income, mode of transportation, dental insurance, etc.), dental needs, and satisfaction with dental care. This data will allow us to compare rural/urban differences in oral health and level of satisfaction with dental care, as well as their underlying contributing factors. This study will provide information that policy makers and clinicians can use in planning for the provision of appropriate rural oral health care. Furthermore, these results will help in the development of effective policies based on what the communities perceive as their needs.