MOLAR: Mapping Oral Health and Local Area Resources

Launched by MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · Jan 9, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The MOLAR trial is studying how to improve oral health care for patients who visit the emergency department (ED) and may have additional social challenges that affect their health. Researchers want to see if providing different types of resources can help these patients get the dental care they need. Participants will be placed in one of three groups: one group will receive general information about oral health, another group will get specific information about local oral health resources, and the last group will receive that same information along with personal help navigating these resources.

To be eligible for this study, you must be at least 18 years old or have a child over 1 year old with a parent or legal guardian present. You should also have unmet oral health needs and be able to communicate in English or Spanish. Participants will need to be reachable by phone throughout the study and live within a specific area near the hospitals involved in the trial. If you join the study, you’ll receive helpful information and support to connect you with dental care resources in your area.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• * To be eligible to participate in this study, an individual must meet all of the following criteria:
• • No evidence of lack of capacity to provide verbal informed consent (as documented in the chart).
• • Willing to comply with all study procedures and be available by phone for the duration of the study (as reported by the patient)
• • Unmet oral health needs as ascertained by the Hope Home (adult) or Gazzaz (pediatric) questions
• • Adult (age ≥18 years old) ED patient or pediatric ED patient (\>1 year of age) presenting with parent or legal guardian. Parent will be the primary study participant but if age \> 7 years, the child will provide assent for medical record review.
• • Ability to communicate in English or Spanish (as reported by the patient)
• • Emergency severity index (ESI) 2-5 (as documented in the electronic medical record)
• • Residence within catchment area of 3-hospital region (defined by MGB home hospital catchment area) at initial enrollment (as reported by the patient)
• • Working phone number
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Patients on involuntary holds (per electronic medical record review)
• • Presenting from carceral facilities (per electronic medical record review)
• • Presenting for acute mental health care under evaluation for Section 12 (per electronic medical record review)
• • Patients presenting for assistance with intimate partner violence (IPV) or care following sexual assault