What is it about?

A literature review on the oral health of Wisconsin farmers lead to the belief that WI farmers would benefit from oral health interventions. After an oral health screening at WI Farm Technology Days in July, 2016, researchers have come to believe that many WI farmers are receiving adequate oral health care. A broader study reaching out to farmers who were unable to attend WI Farm Technology days is needed to determine if the results from this study can be generalized to the majority of farmers in WI.

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Why is it important?

This study is important to determine the level of oral health needs for population health. Often an individual's lifestyle and culture will determine the willingness to seek preventive oral health care, as well as, other factors such as dental insurance. In order to implement population health services, researchers must understand the need, desire, and barriers for these services.

Perspectives

This type of research is important in determining the oral health needs of WI farmers and the WI population in general. Research is continuously demonstrating the link between oral and systemic health and the importance of preventive oral health care to improve whole health outcomes.

Kelly Schroeder
Idaho State University

A literature review at a national level provided data that consistently showed farmers as an urban population who lacked access to dental care and often suffered from poor oral health which affected their overall general health. This study, however, revealed unexpected phenomenon in which WI farmers who participated in the study did not represent the results of the nation. Further research is needed to explain the interesting outcomes of this study and determine if the state of WI is doing something different than other agricultural states.

Karen Portillo

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: The Oral Health Needs of Wisconsin Farmers and the Need for Patient Activation: A Pilot Study, Journal of Agromedicine, April 2017, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2017.1318102.
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