Caregiving-Related Characteristics and Dental Care Utilization in Informal Caregivers of Persons with Dementia: Is There a Gender Difference?

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Dental care utilization is an important, yet understudied aspect of health care in informal caregivers of persons with dementia. This study examined how caregiving-related characteristics are associated with dental care utilization among U.S. informal caregivers of persons with dementia and further examined gender differences. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Pooled data came from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022. A nationally representative sample of informal caregivers (n = 3,909) was included. Dental care utilization was "yes" versus "no" within the past year. Caregiving-related characteristics included caregiver role, intensity of care, duration of care, and type of care. Logistic regressions and subgroup analyses were conducted. RESULTS In total sample, compared to adult child caregivers, spousal caregivers were 28% less likely to visit a dentist (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.56, 0.94). Caregivers who provided care for more than 20 hours per week were 18% less likely to visit a dentist (OR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69, 0.98). In subgroup analyses, intensity of care was a barrier to dental care utilization for female caregivers (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.62, 0.98), whereas caregiver role such as spousal caregiver (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.39, 0.89) or other relative caregiver (OR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.50, 0.99) was a barrier to dental care utilization for male caregivers. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS The findings highlight the importance of caregiving-related characteristics in dental care utilization and suggest gender-tailored interventions.