What influences use of dental services by the Korean disabled people? The role of perceived barriers in dental care system

Objective: To identify the perceived barriers to dental care for disabled people in South Korea using the revised Andersen's model of access to health care. Basic research design: Cross-sectional analytic interview study. Participants: Korean people with a disability residing in residential facilities, or those at home who attend vocational rehabilitation facilities, special schools, or welfare facilities, were sampled from Seoul and non-Seoul areas in 2016 and were interviewed face-to-face. In total, 456 disabled Koreans, or their primary caregivers participated. Results: Household income, disability duration and perceived barriers in the dental care system were perceived to impact on dental care utilisation, while the need for dental care services did not significantly explain the use of dental care by disabled people in South Korea. Those with low household incomes were less likely to use dental care services, compared to people with moderate and high household incomes. As disability duration increased, disabled people were more likely to use dental services. Those who perceived the barriers to dental care as higher were less likely to use dental services. Conclusion: These data suggest that policies are needed to support disabled people with low household incomes. Lowering barriers in the dental care system may encourage people with disabilities to access timely and adequate dental services.