The Role of Health Literacy in Adults' Dental Service Utilisation: A Scoping Review

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q2 DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology Pub Date : 2026-03-19 Epub Date: 2025-10-30 DOI:10.1111/cdoe.70037

Xuanyun Lu, Sucharita Nanjappa, Thushani Indumani Devi Wijesiri, Peter Mossey, Siyang Yuan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

Health literacy refers to an individual's ability to understand health information, navigate healthcare systems, make informed decisions and adopt health-promoting behaviours. The scoping review examined the available literature to explore adults' health literacy levels, health literacy measurements, and the role of health literacy in adults' dental service utilisation.

Methods

The scoping review used Arksey and O'Malley's framework, refined by Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed studies, published in English with adult participants in a dental setting. Four databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and ASSIA) were searched for relevant studies from January 2000 to January 2025.

Results

Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, with 12 out of 19 conducted in the US. Health literacy was assessed by 11 different measures. Although most studies reported relatively inadequate health literacy levels, inconsistent findings persist due to a lack of consensus on measurement. Dental service utilisation, primarily assessed by dental visits, dental information seeking, and dentist-patient communication, demonstrated inconsistent associations with health literacy.

Conclusions

While some studies suggested a positive association between health literacy and dental service utilisation, the mechanisms through which health literacy influenced dental service utilisation remained unclear and required further investigation.

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健康素养在成人牙科服务利用中的作用：范围审查。

目标：卫生素养是指个人理解卫生信息、驾驭卫生保健系统、做出知情决定和采取促进健康行为的能力。范围审查检查了现有文献，以探讨成人健康素养水平，健康素养测量，以及健康素养在成人牙科服务利用中的作用。方法：范围审查使用Arksey和O'Malley的框架，由乔安娜布里格斯研究所的方法改进。纳入标准是同行评议的研究，发表在英语与成人参与者在牙科设置。检索了四个数据库（MEDLINE via PubMed, Scopus， CINAHL和ASSIA）从2000年1月到2025年1月的相关研究。结果：19项研究符合纳入标准，19项研究中有12项在美国进行。通过11项不同措施评估了卫生素养。虽然大多数研究报告了相对不足的卫生素养水平，但由于在测量上缺乏共识，不一致的结果仍然存在。牙科服务的利用，主要通过牙科就诊、牙科信息寻求和牙医-患者沟通来评估，显示出与健康素养不一致的关联。结论：虽然一些研究表明健康素养与牙科服务利用之间存在正相关关系，但健康素养影响牙科服务利用的机制仍不清楚，需要进一步调查。

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来源期刊

Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

4.40

自引率

8.70%

发文量

审稿时长

6 months

期刊介绍： The aim of Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology is to serve as a forum for scientifically based information in community dentistry, with the intention of continually expanding the knowledge base in the field. The scope is therefore broad, ranging from original studies in epidemiology, behavioral sciences related to dentistry, and health services research through to methodological reports in program planning, implementation and evaluation. Reports dealing with people of all age groups are welcome. The journal encourages manuscripts which present methodologically detailed scientific research findings from original data collection or analysis of existing databases. Preference is given to new findings. Confirmations of previous findings can be of value, but the journal seeks to avoid needless repetition. It also encourages thoughtful, provocative commentaries on subjects ranging from research methods to public policies. Purely descriptive reports are not encouraged, nor are behavioral science reports with only marginal application to dentistry. The journal is published bimonthly.