Factors Influencing Oral Health Behaviours, Access and Provision of Dental Care for Autistic Children and Adolescents in Countries with a Very High Human Development Index: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Systematic Review

Jo Erwin, Martha Paisi, Robert Witton, Sarah Neill, Lorna Burns, Isaac Vassallo, Abigail Nelder, Jemma Facenfield, Urshla Devalia and Tara Vassallo
Additional contact information
Jo Erwin: Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Martha Paisi: Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Robert Witton: Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Sarah Neill: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Lorna Burns: Peninsula Dental School, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Isaac Vassallo: School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK
Abigail Nelder: Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, Plymouth Science Park, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BT, UK
Jemma Facenfield: Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise, Plymouth Science Park, Research Way, Plymouth PL6 8BT, UK
Urshla Devalia: Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospital, London University, 47-49 Huntley St, London WC1E 6DG, UK
Tara Vassallo: Plymouth Institute of Education, University of Plymouth, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UK

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 23, 1-14

Abstract: Autistic children and adolescents are at high risk of dental disease and experience oral health inequalities. They consistently show high levels of unmet needs in relation to their oral health and access to dental care. There are no systematic reviews that bring together the evidence on the factors that influence oral hygiene behaviours, and access to and provision of dental care for autistic children and adolescents. A systematic search will be carried out in eight international databases and in grey literature of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research studies from countries with a High Development Index which relate to oral health behaviours, and access to and provision of dental care. Only studies where participants are autistic children and adolescents aged 19 years or under, parents/guardians/caregivers, support staff, or oral health care providers will be included. Quantitative and qualitative data will be synthesized together through data transformation using a convergent integrated approach. Thematic synthesis will be used to carry out an inductive analysis of the data. The findings from the systematic review which this protocol generates will be used in the development of an appropriate local clinic care pathway for autistic children/adolescents and to inform national policies and practices. Prospero registration: CRD 42021248764.

Keywords: systematic review; autism; dental care; oral health; access to health care; health care delivery (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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