Teledentistry Acceptability Among Latina/o/x Adults in Rural Southwest Virginia

J Health Care Poor Underserved. 2023;34(4):1353-1365.

Abstract

Inequitable access to dental care remains a barrier to optimal health for rural populations. With the COVID-19 pandemic, teledentistry to improve the delivery of oral health care has been emphasized. Few previous investigations of teledentistry acceptability have included Latina/o/x populations in rural areas of the United States. We recruited Latina/o/x adults (N=91) in rural southwest Virginia to participate in a survey to assess correlates related to teledentistry acceptability. More than half of participants (57%) reported no interest in using teledentistry if it were available. Having a yearly household income above $24,000 and not having dental insurance were positively associated with telehealth acceptability (p=.04 and p=.01, respectively). Inequitable access to dental care may persist even with broad availability of teledentistry services unless there is explicit integration of health equity.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology
  • COVID-19 / ethnology
  • Dental Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Hispanic or Latino* / psychology
  • Hispanic or Latino* / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / ethnology
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care* / psychology
  • Rural Population* / statistics & numerical data
  • Telemedicine*
  • Virginia
  • Young Adult