Grant Given to EIOH for Examination of HIV/AIDS Co-Occurring Conditions and Barriers to Medical Care
A new study, titled "Addressing Dental and Psychiatric Comorbidities: Screening and Referrals of HIV/AIDS Patients," has been awarded a grant to the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, part of the University of Rochester Medical Center. The multi-disciplinary team of experts from various departments, including Dentistry, Public Health Sciences, Psychiatry, and Internal Medicine, will lead this first-of-its-kind U.S. study to address a longstanding problem.
The study will focus on people living with HIV/AIDS who have psychiatric and dental comorbidities, a group often experiencing treatment gaps, diagnostic complexities, increased healthcare costs, and poorer outcomes compared to the general population. Dr. Gajendra, DDS, MPH, MS, Community Dentistry Clinical Chief at EIOH, and Scott McIntosh, PhD, professor at the University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry, will head the research.
The innovative mixed-methods approach of the study aims to provide evidence to effectively address the challenges of access to care for both patients and dental and mental health professionals. The study will not delve into the facts about the barriers to dental care in this population, the examination of factors associated with referrals to dental and mental health services, or the exploration of comorbidity prevalence and patient and staff perceptions of successful referral factors, as these have already been extensively studied.
The study will, however, investigate patient self-management strategies and patient perception of case management. It will also explore comorbidity prevalence and patient and staff perceptions of successful referral factors.
The ultimate goal of the study is to connect people living with HIV/AIDS to a dental home and mental health services, thereby improving their quality of life. Key factors for successful referrals include the establishment of dental clinics at HIV centers, mental health support, privacy and stigma reduction, improvement of referral processes and transportation, effective oral health literacy interventions, and a collaborative healthcare approach.
The study will be instrumental in understanding patients living with HIV or AIDS' use of dental and mental health services, with patients, HIV program directors, case managers, and administrators as key stakeholders. The research will not be focused on advertisements.
- This new study on dental and psychiatric comorbidities in HIV/AIDS patients, titled "Addressing Dental and Psychiatric Comorbidities: Screening and Referrals of HIV/AIDS Patients," is aimed at improving health outcomes, focusing on chronic diseases, mental health, and respiratory and digestive health.
- The study will be led by a multidisciplinary team, including experts from Dentistry, Public Health Sciences, Psychiatry, and Internal Medicine, working at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, part of the University of Rochester Medical Center.
- The research will employ a mix of methods to study patient self-management strategies and perception of case management, as well as the prevalence of comorbidities and effective referral factors.
- The ultimate goal is to connect patients to a dental home and mental health services, promoting fitness and exercise, nutrition, and overall health and wellness, while addressing factors such as privacy and stigma reduction, improvement of referral processes, and transportation.
- Key stakeholders include patients, HIV program directors, case managers, and administrators, and the study will not focus on advertisements.
- Successful referrals will involve the establishment of dental clinics at HIV centers, mental health support, and a collaborative healthcare approach in the context of the Medicare healthcare system.
- The results of this study may contribute to education and self-development in the fields of health and medicine, leading to personal growth and continued learning.
- The study will not delve into barriers to dental care, factors associated with referrals, or prevalence and perceptions of successful referrals, as these topics have already been extensively studied and understood.
