Workforce Equity and Dental Health Aides in CHAP: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Health Equity

Background:

• Persistent oral health workforce shortages in the US disproportionately impact American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) communities.
• Limited access to dental care exacerbates oral health inequities and systemic disparities.
• Integrating community-based providers is a key strategy to improve access and address these disparities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate publications on community-based providers within the Community Health Aide Program (CHAP).
• To analyze their role in serving AI/AN populations through a health workforce equity lens.
• To synthesize findings on integrating dental health aides via the CHAP Framework.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of 33 articles was conducted.
• Included articles published within the last 60 years, focusing on dental health aides (DHAs) and mid-level providers.
• Data extraction and article screening were performed independently by two reviewers.

Main Results:

• Articles covered recruitment (10), retention (6), curriculum (23), and access to care (24).
• Provider types analyzed included dental therapists (28), primary DHAs (5), expanded function DHAs (3), and dental hygienists (4).
• The review synthesized information on various mid-level providers within dental health aide programs.

Conclusions:

• Findings highlight key oral health workforce concepts for enhancing dental care access.
• The Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) framework facilitates the integration of dental health aides.
• A culturally adapted approach is crucial for increasing oral healthcare access in underserved AI/AN communities.