Building Collaborative Research Infrastructure To Reduce Oral Health Disparities (2010 – 2013)
This research infrastructure project, funded by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research, has provided the initial support for the OHRSA. In addition to building, expanding and instutitionalizing the Oral Health Research Strategic Alliance (OHRSA), the proposal aims to support ongoing state and local efforts to collect data on geriatric oral health and service barriers; Build, test, manualize and disseminate curriculum to support community and clinic based/community oriented partnership research on geriatric oral health of low income and minority older adults; Develop a 10 year strategic research agenda and short term study development plan focused on community based research and intervention to address oral health disparities; and create sustainable transformative infrastructure to ensure implementation of this research agenda. A core feature of the project is to develop and support strong oral health research advocates among older adults, who can take full leadership roles in planning the disparities research agenda and advocating for policy changes to improve access to oral health care for older adults with limited incomes, and those with disabilities.
Changing Oral Health Norms and Hygiene Practices among Vulnerable Older Adults (2011-2013)
This two year project funded by the National Institute for Dental and Craniofacial Research aims to develop and pilot test a bi-level (building and individual) cognitive/behavioral intervention (Pro-GOH: Pro-Good Oral Health) to enhance and sustain good oral health self-management as one means of reducing significant and persistent disparities in oral health among vulnerable older low income, minority and disabled adults residing in publicly funded senior housing in Central Connecticut. The long term goal of this pilot study is to expand it to multiple building sites in the future For further information about the study contact PIs Susan Reisine, Ph.D., (reisine@nso1.uchc.edu) and Jean Schensul, Ph.D. (Jean.schensul@icrweb.org).
