Enhancing Oral Health Care Use by HIV-Positives

Recent national studies demonstrate that oral health is one of the highest unmet health needs for HIV-positive (HIV+) individuals, although it is recognized as playing a less critical role in the medical management of HIV/AIDS. Social and economic factors have contributed to less than optimal use of oral health services for HIV+s in the United States. According to recent data, from Miami-Dade County, Florida, only 24% of HIV+s served by Ryan White-funded medical clinics had obtained oral health services in the past 12 months.

To address the underutilization of oral health care services, we propose to develop, implement, and evaluate an intervention to assist low-income HIV+s in obtaining access to oral health services as well as increase appropriate utilization of these services. The case management intervention is adapted from an intervention that had been previously tested in a CDC-funded, multi-site study designed to link recently diagnosed HIV+s to primary medical care.

A two-arm randomized trial among HIV+ individuals who are currently enrolled in HIV primary medical care, but not receiving oral health care, will be conducted to test the intervention. The two arms will consist of a case management intervention and standard-of-care. Participants will be assessed at baseline and at 6, 12 and 18 months after baseline to document their utilization of oral health services. An interdisciplinary team of behavioral and clinical research scientists with experience in developing and evaluating health care and prevention intervention targeting low income, HIV+s will conduct this research.