Engaging with a rural Aboriginal community to identify strategies to improve oral health within their community: a qualitative study
David Walker A , Anna Tynan B C * , Taygan Tucker D , Barry Fisher E and Tarita Fisher F
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
B Research Support Team, Baillie Henderson Hospital, Darling Downs Health, Corner of Torr and Hogg Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
C Southern Queensland Rural Health, The University of Queensland, Corner of Torr and Hogg Street, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
D Oral Health Services – Nhulunbuy, Top End Health Services, Northern Territory Government, Gove Dental Clinic, Endeavour Square, Nhulunbuy, NT 0880, Australia.
E Kingaroy Hospital, Darling Downs Health, 166 Youngman Street, Kingaroy, Qld 4610, Australia.
F Darling Downs Health, PO Box 361, Murgon, Qld 4605, Australia.
* Correspondence to: anna.tynan@health.qld.gov.au
Australian Journal of Primary Health 29(1) 38-46 https://doi.org/10.1071/PY22215
Submitted: 21 March 2022 Accepted: 14 October 2022 Published: 2 November 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of La Trobe University
Abstract
Background: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders bear a higher burden of oral disease compared to non-Indigenous persons. Rural Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are further disadvantaged due to service access difficulties. This study, initiated by community concern for oral health identified through its Health Action Group, aimed to explore a rural Aboriginal community’s strategies to resolve oral health problems.
Methods: A qualitative research study using a phenomenological research design with focus group discussions and in-depth interviews was completed in partnership with a rural community in Queensland, Australia, with a predominantly Aboriginal population. The research team included Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal personnel; community and external personnel; and dental and non-dental personnel. The collaborative approach included the development, implementation, analysis and interpretation of the research involving the community through its Health Action Group. Community engagement led to the recruitment of 27 participants from local health and community groups.
Results: Themes emerging from the data included: reducing financial barriers to accessing oral health care; integrating oral health care with other health services; increasing oral healthcare promotion activities; and ensuring local input and cultural safety within local oral healthcare services.
Conclusion: Community members are aware of local barriers and potential facilitators for improving oral health within their community. Their identification of priority strategies can be used to inform the delivery of oral healthcare services and to develop oral healthcare promotion programs for the community. Co-designing solutions with the community should be an integral part of solving complex problems such as oral health.
Keywords: community consultation, community recommendations, dental services, health access, Indigenous health, oral health care, qualitative research, rural health services.
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