Grant Received for Examining HIV/AIDS Comorbidities and Obstacles to Medical Care
The Eastman Institute for Oral Health, part of the University of Rochester Medical Center, has been awarded a grant for a first-of-its-kind U.S. study. The study, titled "Addressing Dental and Psychiatric Comorbidities: Screening and Referrals of HIV/AIDS Patients," aims to increase successful referrals to dental and mental health treatment.
People living with HIV/AIDS and comorbidities face several barriers to accessing dental and mental health care, including ability to pay, dental anxiety, transportation, and social determinants such as housing stability and availability of social support. The study, led by Sangeeta 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 explore these factors and more.
The innovative mixed-methods approach of the study is expected to provide the necessary evidence to address challenges in dental and mental health care for this population. The study will focus on people living with HIV/AIDS and psychiatric and dental comorbidities, examining factors associated with referrals to dental and mental health services, and gaining insights to improve the delivery of these services.
The ultimate objective 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. Patients, HIV program directors, case managers, and administrators are key stakeholders in understanding patients living with HIV or AIDS' use of dental and mental health services.
In addition to exploring the factors influencing successful referrals, the study will also investigate patient self-management strategies and patient perception of case management. The study is funded by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research.
The collaborative effort involves experts from the University of Rochester departments of Dentistry, Public Health Sciences, Psychiatry, and Internal Medicine. The study will be beneficial for both patients and dental and mental health professionals who are eager to improve access to care.
By addressing treatment gaps, diagnostic complexities, increased healthcare costs, and poorer outcomes for people living with HIV/AIDS and comorbidities, the study aims to reduce oral and psychiatric morbidity in this vulnerable population. The study could potentially improve successful referrals and decrease morbidity by developing integrated referral models tailored for people living with HIV/AIDS and comorbidities.
The study will investigate the factors associated with referrals to dental and mental health services for individuals living with HIV/Aids and comorbidities, focusing on those with psychiatric and dental conditions. The findings, driven by a collaborative effort across various University of Rochester departments, aim to ameliorate dental and mental health care access for this population, thereby enhancing their overall health-and-wellness and mental-health, reducing oral and psychiatric morbidity.
