Krupa, Ashlea
(2021)
A Review of the Impact of Comprehensive Oral Care on Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Substance Use Disorders and Outline for Future Research in Pittsburgh.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Every year millions of Americans struggle with substance use disorders (SUD). SUDs effect these individuals' mental and physical health. Specifically, individuals with SUDs have higher incidence of oral health complications that compromise SUD treatment outcomes. Finding ways to improve treatment outcomes is imperative to help allow these individuals to return to being functioning members of their communities. Studies have shown that integration of medical services into substance abuse treatment improves patient’s addiction treatment outcomes. A study at the University of Utah School of Dentistry was the first of its kind to examine how comprehensive oral care in conjunction with SUD care may affect treatment outcomes for patients with SUDs. Those who received oral health care had higher rates of treatment completion, decreased drop out rates, improved average length of stay, and were more likely to be employed, more likely to be abstinent from drugs and less likely to be homeless. Based on this study, there is value for incorporating a similar program at the University of Pittsburgh. The public health relevance of this paper is to demonstrate the value of oral health care on treatment outcomes for patients with SUDs, identify the current need to further research the connection between oral health care and SUD treatment outcomes, and outline a way to incorporate oral health care into general care services for patients with SUDs in the Pittsburgh area.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Finegold, David | dnf@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Rubin, Richard | rrubin@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Date: |
10 May 2021 |
| Date Type: |
Completion |
| Number of Pages: |
32 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Multidisciplinary MPH |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
10 May 2021 22:33 |
| Last Modified: |
10 May 2022 05:15 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/40652 |
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