Objective: This study considered Chengdu, Sichuan, China as an example to investigate the dental service utilization by foreigners and its influencing factors. Results of the study can be referred by dental practitioners to explore international development of dental services and can be provided for health policy makers to formulate oral health policies for immigrants.
Methods: A simple random sampling method with a questionnaire was designed based on Anderson's health utilization model and "Oral Health Questionnaire for Adults" by the World Health Organization. Oral health condition, consciousness, and demographic data were collected. Binary Logistic regression and stratified analysis with SPSS 20.0 were performed.
Results: A total of 654 immigrants repre-senting 75 countries participated in the study. Among all participants, 102 (15.6%) experienced dental problems while in residence in China but paid no visit to dentists. Female immigrants, who spent considerable time living in Chengdu, experienced oral problems in a year, used dental floss, and reported family members in Chengdu, were more likely to visit Chinese dentists. Participants who lived in Chengdu for at least 10.5 months were the threshold distinguishing differences in dental visits in the country.
Conclusions: The policymakers in Chengdu should consider creating a convenient and conducive dental care environment for immigrants. Additional information related to urgent oral and routine care should be provided to short- and long-term living immigrants in China. Dental practitioners in China should also contemplate on collaborating with foreign dental insurance companies to ensure better dental care access for immigrant patients.
目的 调查中国成都市外国人的口腔卫生服务利用情况及其影响因素，为口腔卫生从业者对口腔卫生服务的国际化发展进行探索，为卫生政策制定者制定移民口腔健康政策提供建议。方法 参照世界卫生组织制定的《成人口腔健康问卷》，结合安德森卫生服务利用模型设计问卷。问卷内容包括口腔健康情况、口腔保健意识、口腔健康保障和基本信息4个部分。采用方便抽样方法选择调查对象。调查结果使用SPSS 20.0统计软件分析，采用Binary Logistic回归和分层分析方法进行统计学分析。结果 共有来自75个国家的654名调查对象完成调查，结果显示有102（15.6%）名外国人在成都曾经遇到过口腔问题却没有就诊。Binary Logistic回归分析显示，女性、长时间在成都居住、过去1年内出现过口腔健康问题、有使用牙线习惯、和家人一起居住在成都者遇到口腔问题或定期口腔体检时，更倾向于到本地口腔科就诊。通过ROC曲线分析，居住在成都10.5个月是外国人选择在成都就诊的临界值。结论 卫生政策制定者可以根据不同居住时间的外国人制定不同的口腔急诊或平诊指南，创造出更方便外国人在成都因口腔问题就诊的环境，以促进外国人在成都的口腔卫生服务利用。.
Keywords: Chengdu; dental care utilization; immigrants; oral health.