Patient and Dentist Experiences of Referral to Bariatric Dental Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Dental Care Provision and Referral for Patients with Obesity: Patient and Dentist Experiences
IRAS ID
227167
Contact name
Andrew Geddis-Regan
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 19 days
Research summary
Obesity is increasing in the UK. Dental chairs have weight limits lower than the weight of many overweight patients so consequently, these patients require referred to a facility where they can be safely treated: this is typically within the Community Dental Services. This is often a bariatric chair within the community dental services or on a hospital trolley. The process of this referral, or the lack of such, can prove a barrier to receiving dental care and the discussions which lead to this referral can be uncomfortable for both patients and the dentists. To understand these experiences and the perspectives of both dentists and obese patients, qualitative interviews with those in both categories will be conducted. The interviews will be recorded transcribed verbatim to facilitate thematic analysis and generation of theory. This hopes to identify barriers and facilitators to effective treatment and discussions and identify possible changes to services and referral pathways and understand how best to broach the subject of patients’ weight and safety of treatment.
REC name
North East - York Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NE/0177
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion