Facilitators and barriers to asylum seeker and refugee oral health care access: a qualitative systematic review

Abstract Objectives Asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) encounter barriers when accessing oral health care (OHC). A qualitative systematic review was conducted to understand the perceptions, attitudes, behaviours and experiences of ASRs regarding their OHC. Themes were extracted to identify the barriers and facilitators ASRs face when accessing OHC. Data sources PubMed, APA PsycInfo, Cochrane Database, Web of Science and CINAHL were searched on 4 and 5 October 2022. Data selection Primary studies including ASRs of any age or nationality were included. Qualitative data of ASRs' lived experiences of oral health (OH) and accessing OHC were extracted. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme quality appraisal tool was applied. Data synthesis Data findings were extracted and meta-aggregation performed using inductive reasoning. A total of 13 primary qualitative studies were included. Three barriers were identified, including difficulty accessing treatments and appointments, cultural and language changes, and ASRs' lack of OHC knowledge or incongruous beliefs surrounding OH. Two facilitators were identified as good OH education and support from care providers or government. Conclusions Decision-makers should adapt policy to facilitate access to OHC and educate ASRs on OH. More research is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators to OHC for other people groups who experience health inequalities.